THE TREE SWALLOW. 343 



bringing off the brood is an e\fin wliicli nia\- well arresl the attention of 

 the human household. There is much stir of excitement about the barn. The 

 anxious parents rush to and fro sliouting 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 i)l(nv-handle. Up- 

 on the last-natned the agonized parents urge another effort, for Tabbv niav 

 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 

 fi\e 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 oiu- Swallows among their twittering" fellows 

 strung like notes of music on the far-tlung staff of Western L'nion. 



If jjirds really mean an_\-thing more to us than so many Japanese kites 

 flown without strings, we may surely join with I )r. 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 nc\er known even 

 indirectly to do an injury. For their daily food and f<ir 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 bene\-()lent 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. L'. Xo. 614. Iridoprocne bicolor (\ieill. ). 



Synonym. — Wiiitic-belliEd Sw.allovv. 



Description. — Adult male: .Above, lustrous stcel-bluc or stcel-gieen : 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: 

 L'pper 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. — Aerial habits; steel-blue or greenish above: pure white 

 below : a little larger than the next species. 



Nesting. — Nest: in holes in trees nr, latterly, in bird houses, plentifully lined 



