BANK SWALLOW. 165 
nests of all other North American birds, is the 
remarkable fact that cast-off snake skins are used 
in its construction. This is true even in localities 
where snakes are so uncommon that an ordinary 
person may spend a lifetime without finding one 
of their skins. Surely the birds must possess keen 
eyes and much local knowledge of the haunts of 
the snakes when the shedding process is going on! 
Mrs. Treat tells of a pair of great-crested fly- 
catchers that built in a bird-house on top of the 
stable. First, she says, they go to all the bird- 
houses “scattered about on the posts” in the 
vineyard, but as we would expect of such aristo- 
erats, choose “the finest establishment on the 
premises — a three-storied, octagon house, sur- 
mounted with a cupola and spire, with a weather 
vane and ball attached.” Though a pair of blue- 
birds have kept all would-be tenants away for 
several years, they offer no resistance to the fly- 
catchers, who settle in the empty cupola. 
Th, 
BANK SWALLOW; SAND MARTIN. 
Like the kingfisher the bank swallow excavates 
a hole for his nest, and when you are driving 
through cuts in sand or clay banks you will often 
see the birds pop out of their holes in the sides 
and fly off up in the air. They are the plainest 
