THE BANK-SWALLOW. 119 



feet in length, they make a little chamber in 

 which to lay their eggs. 



When a swallow is approaching its hole in the 

 bank, you will notice it folds its wings and darts 

 right in without so much as touching foot on its 

 own door-step. At the end of the passageway in 

 the little nursery-chamber, just out of reach of a 

 boy's arm, the little swallows grow, and gradually 

 learn to run down the long lane and peep out of 

 the door. It is now that the crow, the hungry 

 rascal that he is, is observed to keep strict watch. 

 Many a child swallow is met at the open door 

 with a very tragic ending of its short life. 



Perhaps you think the young swallows stand a 

 good chance of tumbling off from their door-steps 

 into the river. But such a catastrophe never 

 occurs. A baby swallow's wings are developed 

 very soon, and the little bird is much at home in 

 the air on his first flight, as any one may see by 

 watching a colony of nesting-holes, only you 

 would have some difficulty in recognizing the 

 young from their parents, for they look just alike. 



The twittering of the swallows is musical, 

 though they have no real song. They are a bless- 

 ing to all mankind, for they never take our fruit 

 or grain, living entirely upon insect-life, and of 

 course taking many harmful species. 



