66 WHEN NESTING IS OVER. 



" Built so narrow 

 Like the head of an arrow 

 To ciit the air," 



did not even notice me in my nook under the 

 pines. 



They could fly very well, and now and then 

 one followed the parent far out, calling sharply 

 his baby "cheep " and trying to get close to her 

 in the air. Often she turned, met and fed him 

 on the wing, and then sailed on, while the young- 

 ster lagged a little, unable to give his mind to 

 feeding and flying at the same time. Some- 

 times the mother avoided a too persistent pleader 

 by suddenly rising above him. When a little 

 one was at rest, she usually paused before him on 

 wing only long enough to poke a mouthful into 

 his wide open beak ; occasionally — but not often 

 — she alighted beside him for a few moments. 



Leading out into the water for the use of 

 boatmen, was a narrow foot pier, provided on 

 one side with a hand rail. This rail was a con- 

 venient rendezvous for all the babies belonging 

 to the swallow flock, a sort of a community nur- 

 sery. On this they rested from the fatigue of 

 flying; here they were fed, and sometimes gently 

 pushed off the perch afterward, as a mild hint 

 to use their wings. 



I wanted to find out whether parents and 

 young knew each other from all the rest. Of 



