Lake George 
the roof and rafters in the same manner as is 
the cliff swallow’s nest. Occasionally, however, 
they avoid all anxiety as to whether adhesion or 
gravitation will prevail, by placing a circular 
nest directly on a beam; but I think this is 
rather exceptional. The nests of these two 
species differ more conspicuously in the interior 
than in the walls; for that of the cliff swal- 
low has but the scantiest lining of dried grass, 
with a few insignificant feathers. But barn 
swallows are either extremely doting parents, 
or else their young are very delicate; for I 
have never seen so luxurious nests as those I 
collected this summer, with double linings ; 
the outer, of soft grass neatly woven, and the 
inner, a mass of downiest feathers filling the 
cavity almost to the very brim, and kept in 
place by being deftly bound to the outer walls 
with horse-hairs. 
A peculiar aspect of a bird’s nature is its 
sensitiveness to the smallest change of climate. 
No human being, I am sure, is competent to 
detect the difference of latitude between this 
region and a spot fifty or a hundred miles 
farther south. But these creatures are endowed 
with sharper senses than ourselves. As a result, 
a two or three hours’ car-ride from Albany 
215 
