Swallows. loi 



known birds to show that each species instinctively 

 gathers the same materials for its nests, combines 

 them in the same manner, and selects for its nests 

 similar positions ; and also to show that birds of the 

 same family, and even of the same genus, differ more 

 from each other in all these particulars, than many 

 birds do that are far removed from each other, ac- 

 cording to the structure of organs and apparent 

 ability to build. 



One of the Swallow family, like a skilful mason, 

 fastens its nest of mortar against the frame-work of 

 the old barn ; another, with the same materials, fash- 

 ions a more curious nest still, beneath the eaves of 

 the same building, — both species preferring these 

 places, when they can be found, to such places as 

 they are compelled to sekct beyond the habitations 

 . of man. Another Swallow makes her grassy bed in 

 ^ a hollow tree, another digs deep holes in steep sandy 

 banks, for its young. The so called Chimney-swal- 

 low finds its favorite home in hollow trees or in the 

 chimney of the farm-house, where it plasters its hard 

 nest of sticks against the mason work with a cement 

 secreted from its own body. If we class this bird 

 near the Night-hawks, as some do, the difference in 

 nesting is as marked, for the Night-hawks can hard- 

 ly be said to form nests at all. No examination of 

 these birds would enable the best Ornithologist in 

 the world to predict what materials would be used 

 for the nest of each, the form of the nest, or its 

 position. The facts can be learned by observation 

 only. But w^hen the habits of each species, in 

 nesting, have once been learned, they are always 



