76 THE BIRDS OF 



concerning these birds: "Immediately 

 after my arrival at Louisville, I was in- 

 formed that on my way back to town 

 there was a tree remarkable on account 

 of the immense numbers of Swallows 

 that resorted to it. I found it to be a 

 sycamore, hollow nearly to the roots. 

 The sun was going down, and the 

 evening was beautiful; thousands of 

 Swallows were flying closely above 

 me, and three or four at a time would 

 pitch into the entrance of the tree. I 

 did not pretend to count them, for 

 their number was too great, and the 

 birds rushed to the entrance so thick 

 as to baffle the attempt. Next morning 

 I rose early enough to reach the place 

 long before the least appearance of day- 

 light, and after waiting about twenty 

 minutes, I suddenly thought that the 

 tree was giving way and coming down 

 upon me, and what was my astonish- 



