BIRDS OP THE AIR. 171 



son, " is this to the lower birds aiid to the domestic poul- 

 try, that as soon as they hear the Martin's voice engaged 

 in fight, all is alarm and consternation." The Martin is 

 often victor in contests with the Kingbird, perhaps when 

 one is tired of the contest another takes his place with 

 fresh vigor, so that the Kingbird is finally driven away 

 and conquered. 



THE CHIMNEY-SWALLOW. 



The Chimney-Swallow attracts general attention on 

 account of its practice of building its nest in the un- 

 used flue of a chimney. In village and town this fam- 

 ily of birds are very abundant, some deserted chimney 

 being always appropriated for the rearing of their young. 

 It is remarkable that their desertion of their original 

 breeding-places and their present selection of chimneys 

 should be so universal. Though they are known at the 

 present time to build, as formerly, in hollow trees, they 

 do so only in forests very distant from town or village. 

 It cannot be said that they are fond of the companion- 

 ship of man. The small flies that constitute their food 

 are probably more numerous in towns than in forests. 

 Hence the birds for convenience resort to the chimney 

 rather than the hollow tree, which is farther from their 

 supplies of food. 



The Chimney-Swallow is the smallest of our American 

 species, and is partially nocturnal in its habits, being 

 most active during morn and early twilight. Its nests 

 are nicely woven with sticks, fastened to the chimney 

 with a glutinous saliva. Says Samuels : " About sunset, 

 great multitudes of these birds are out, and the num- 

 bers of insects they destroy must be immense. Every- 

 where they may be seen ; away up in the blue sky, as 

 far as the eye can reach, they are coursing in wide- 



