5i» 



THE IJANK S\V.\I.I.()\^ 



cliangcabic 1>ik.*, a visible link belwctn SluiniUuwii-oii-Swiiioniisli and I'lor- 

 iMice on tlic Ami). Hirds of jircciscly this fcatlier art suinnu'ring on tlic I^cna, 

 or else liawking at (lies on tlic sunny C.auilal(|uivir. or tunneling the sacred 

 banks of the Jordan; and the flattery is not lost upon us of such as still prefer 

 the Nespilen) and the I'ilchuck. 



The life of a Swallow i^ so largely spent a-wing, that our interest in it 



centers even more than 



in the case of other 



birds ui)on the time 



when it is Ix>und to 



/';i..(,. i>> lilt liif/i.. 



nestim; sitk or thk hank suai.i.ou. 



earth by family ties. We are scarcely conscious of the jiresence of tiie Hank 

 Swallow until one day we see a great company of them tlutiering alx>ut a sand- 

 bank which overlooks the rixer. all busily engaged in digging the tunnels which 

 are to shelter their young for that season. These birds are regularly gre- 

 garious, and a nesting colony frequently numbers Inmdreds. 



The birds usuallx select a sjiot well up within a foot or two of the top of 

 a nearly per])endicular bank of soil or sand, and dig a straight, nnuid tuiuiel 

 three or four feet long. If. however, the .<oil contains stones, a greater length 

 and manv turns may be rec|uire<l to reach a safe s|vit for the slight enlargement 

 where the nest i)ro|K'r is ])laced. The bird appears to loosen the earth with 



