THE TREE SWALLOW. 343 
Bringing off the brood is an event which may well arrest the attention of 
the human household. There is much stir of excitement about the barn. The 
anxious parents rush to and fro shouting tisic, tisic, now in encouragement. 
now in caution, while baby number one launches for the nearest beam. The 
pace is set, and babies number two to four follow hotly after, now lighting 
safely, now landing in the hay-mow, or compromising on a plow-handle. Up- 
on the last-named the agonized parents urge another effort, for Tabby may 
appear at any moment. He tries, therefore, for old Nellie’s back, to the mild 
astonishment of that placid mare, who presently shakes him off. Number 
five tumbles outright and requires to be replaced by hand, if you will be so 
kind. And so the tragi-comedy wears on, duplicating human years in half as 
many days, until at last we see our Swallows among their twittering fellows 
strung like notes of music on the far-flung staff of Western Union. 
If birds really mean anything more to us than so many Japanese kites 
flown without strings, we may surely join with Dr. Brewer in his whole-souled 
appreciation of these friendly Swallows: “Innocent and blameless in their 
lives, there is no evil blended with the many benefits they confer on man. 
They are his ever constant benefactor and friend, and are never known even 
indirectly to do an injury. For their daily food and for that of their off- 
spring, they destroy the insects that annoy his cattle, injure his fruit trees, 
sting his fruit, or molest his person. Social, affectionate and kind in their 
intercourse with each other; faithful and devoted in the discharge of their 
conjugal and parental duties; exemplary, watchful, and tender alike to their 
own family and to all their race; sympathizing and benevolent when their 
fellows are in any trouble——these lovely and beautiful birds are bright ex- 
amples to all, in their blameless and useful lives.” 
No. 131. 
TREE SWALLOW. 
A. O. U. No. 614. Iridoprocne bicolor ( Vieill.). 
Synonym.—WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW. 
Description.—4dult male: Above, lustrous steel-blue or steel-green; below, 
pure white; lores black; wings and tail black, showing some bluish or greenish 
luster; tail slightly forked. Female: Similar to male, but duller. Immature: 
Upper parts mouse-gray instead of metallic; below whitish. Length about 6.00 
(152.4); wing 4.57 (116.1); tail 2.19 (55.6) ; bill from nostril .25 (6.4). 
Recognition Marks.—Aérial habits ; steel-blue or greenish above; pure white 
below; a little larger than the next species. 
Nesting.—WNest: in holes in trees or, latterly, in bird houses, plentifully lined 
