94 Birds Every Child Should Know 



enough have been trapped to make a pellet, the 

 swallow swallows them in a ball, although 

 one swallow does not make a dinner, any more 

 than one swallow makes a summer. 



These sociable birds delight to live in com- 

 panies, even during the nesting season when 

 most feathered couples, however glad to flock 

 at other times, prefer to be alone. As soon as 

 the young birds can take wing, one family 

 party unites with another, one colony with 

 another, tmtil often enormous numbers assemble 

 in the marshes in August and September. You 

 see them strung like beads along the telegraph 

 wires, perched on the fences, circhng over the 

 meadows and ponds, zigzagging across the 

 sky. Millions of swallows have been noted in 

 some of these autumnal flocks. Usually they 

 go to sleep among the reeds and grasses in a 

 favourite marsh where the bands rettu'n year 

 after year ; but some prefer trees. Comparatively 

 little perching is done except at night, for swal- 

 lows' feet are very small and weak. 



i\t sunrise, the birds scatter in small bands 

 to pick up on the wing the long continued meal, 

 which lasts till late in the afternoon. Those 

 who have gone too far abroad and must travel 

 back to the roost after sundown shoot across 

 the sky with incredible swiftness lest darkness 

 overtake them. Relying upon their speed of 

 flight to carry them beyond the reach of en- 



