98 BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 



circle over the fields in pursuit of their evening 

 meal, when one might imagine they were resident 

 birds, but observation will show that the general 

 trend of their movement is toward the roost. 



This continues for an hour to an hour and a half, 

 a cloudy evening hastening their actions, when their 

 flight becomes more direct. Few birds pause to feed, 

 but hurry on to the roosting places, and as the light 

 fades the last birds rush through the gloom with 

 arrowy speed and directness. The birds pass in 

 straggling flocks, and periods of abundance are suc- 

 ceeded by intervals of scarcity, as though the indi- 

 viduals which had been associated during the day 

 were journeying home together. 



Thus the Swallow's evening flight may be ob- 

 served throughout the region surrounding the 

 marshes ; even in New York city they may be seen 

 feeding above the houses, and after sunset flocks of 

 swift-flying birds are often confused by the tele- 

 graph wires, which, however, their dexterity of wing 

 permits them to pass without serious harm. 



In the marshes the first birds are seen about two 

 hours before sunset. Many follow the course of the 

 river, and if one be at its border splash after splash 

 is heard as the birds dip lightly into the water, fol- 

 lowed by soft fluffs as arising from the stream they 

 shake their plumage. Soon the air is filled with 

 Swallows, all streaming toward the roost with in- 

 creasing swiftness. 



Many birds, however, as though waiting for some 

 tardy comrades, rest by the way, perching on tele- 

 graph wires should they cross the marsh, or when 

 these are wanting, on the tips of the reeds. They 



