188 CITIZEN BIRD 



species going to the Fur Countries, as far north as any 

 trees grow, yet tliey all seek a very warm climate for 

 their winter home, because it is only in such places that 

 the insects of the air are found. The distance, there- 

 fore, between the summer and winter homes of the 

 Swallow family is very great, and these brave little birds 

 are wonderful travellers. 



'' They are so swift on the wing that they do not fear 

 to fly in the day-time, and so escape a great many of 

 the accidents that overtake birds who travel by night. 

 They come to the middle parts of the United States 

 during the month of April, and start on their south- 

 ward journey during late September and early Octo- 

 ber. 



'' After mating they either choose separate nesting 

 places, or keep together in colonies. In early autumn 

 they gather in great flocks along the borders of rivers, 

 ponds, and lakes, often also on sea beaches, where they 

 fly to and fro, as if strengthening their wings for the 

 long flight they intend to take. It has been recently 

 discovered by the Wise Men that these birds, who had 

 been supposed to eat nothing but insects, feed at this 

 time upon the same bayberries of which the Yellow- 

 rumped Warbler is so fond ; and that is one reason 

 why they stay by the sandy wastes where these bushes 

 grow. But no doubt Rap could have told us that, if 

 we had asked him about it. Another reason for lin- 

 gering near water is, that winged insects fly about wet 

 places later in the season than they do in dry oiies." 



" But you have left out the Chimney Swallow," said 

 Nat ; " and there are plenty of them all about every- 

 where." 



