CHAPTER TWELVE 



SWALLOWS 



Finley & Bohlman 

 FIG. 194. Young rough-winged swallows. 



SWALLOWS are easily recognized by their habit of circling 

 over the meadows or over water for long periods of time. 

 A bird may be watched while it flies several miles without 

 getting far from its starting point. They feed on flying 

 insects, including the house fly. Their wings are long and 

 pointed ; their feet are small, not being used for walking 

 or running but for perching only. Some species of swal- 

 lows have the tail forked ; in other species the end of the 

 tail is even, or merely notched. They often nest in 

 colonies ; that is, a number of pairs nest not far apart. 

 After the young are able to fly, large numbers of swallows, 

 young and old, may be seen perching close together on 

 wires. " Where they are numerous enough, the fly 

 scourge is not known." 1 



1 Lynds Jones. 



