12 DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS. 



WOOD SWALLOW. 



(Artamus sordidus)— 6^o«Ws Hand Book. 



(Artamus tenebrosus)— Ma^Afws' Hand List. 



1' Grey- BREASTED Wood Swallow {Artamus cinereus). 

 Black-paced Wood Swallow {Artamus melanops.) 

 Masked Wood Swallow {Artamus fersonatus). 

 White-browed Wood Swallow {Artamus swper- 

 y ciliosus). 



Size. — The wood swallow is about Tin. long, measured from the tip of the beak to 

 the tip of the tail. 



Bill. — The beak is bluish, but tipped with black. 



Feet and Legs. — These are of a leaden-grey color. 



Plumage. — The head, with the exception of a dark-brown spot between the beak 



and eye, is of a brownish-grey color, so also are the neck and body. The 



wings, which are dark slate in color, are margined upon the outer edge 



with white. The tail feathers are dark slate in color, and tipped with 



. white, with the exception of the two central ones. 



Habitat. — They are particularly fond of open timbered country, and live together 

 in great numbers, sometimes crowding together upon a bare limb in such 

 numbers as to resemble a giant swarm of bees. 



Food. — The wood swallow is insectivorous, and one of the most useful of birds to the 

 gardener. 



Nest. — The cup-shaped nest is built of fibrous bark and grass, and usually placed 

 in a crevice on the spout of a dead limb. The wood swallow nests during 

 the months of September, October, November, and December. 



Eggs. — The number in a clutch is generally four. In color the eggs vary, but are 

 mostly dull white, speckled with very dark brown. The eggs measure 

 about T^in. x -i^in. 



