WHERE SWALLOWS ROOST 101 



detachment left it every fifteen minutes ; thus, birds 

 left at 6, 6.15, 6.30, and 6.45, when the reeds were 

 deserted. The departing birds did not arise alone, 

 but the entire flock arose at once, then divided into 

 two flocks, one of which flew northward while the 

 other returned to the reeds. Many of the departing 

 birds alighted on the reeds farther up the creek; 

 their numbers constantly received additions from 

 the ranks of passing birds, and thus new flocks were 

 formed. 



" At eight o'clock the last Swallows had left the 

 reeds in my vicinity, but birds were constantly pass- 

 ing toward the north, and this straggling flight con- 

 tinued until nine o'clock, when again the marshes 

 appeared deserted." 



Subsequent observations have been made largely 

 from a road crossing the marsh, the telegraph and 

 electric-light wires which border it being the resting 

 place of vast numbers of Swallows, both at night 

 and in the morning. Particularly do they throng 

 the wires near the creek, which flows north and 

 south through the marsh, and which, it is inter- 

 esting to observe, forms a natural highway for the 

 Swallows as they go to and from their roosts. 



On the sides of this road are several small maple 

 trees, to which the Swallows often resort in such 

 numbers that their foliage trembles as though in a 

 strong breeze, it not being the birds' object to perch 

 in the trees, but to flutter among the dew-laden 

 leaves, and apparently bathe in the moisture they 

 contain, while between the baths they rest on the 

 smaller terminal twigs, when they are very difficult 



