OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 185 



at our hands. The love which the male cherishes 

 for his partner is remarkable. He feeds and 

 caresses her; and we are informed by a reliable 

 person, that he occasionally relieves her of the 

 irksome duty of incubation. 



In the selection of a nesting- place, special regard 

 for the shelter and comfort of the female and the 

 young is of primary importance. To secure these 

 requirements, a barn, porch, or wagon-house, is 

 usually selected. In rural districts, what are 

 familiarly known as overshoots, with which some 

 barns are specially provided for the accommoda- 

 tion of cattle, are called into requisition. Again, 

 unoccupied springhouses, close by streams of 

 water are favorite resorts. The above places are, 

 doubtless, selected on account of the various dip- 

 terous insects which are to be found there. Ap- 

 petital gratification has probably dictated the pro- 

 priety of nidificating where a ready supply of 

 tood-stuffs can be obtained, with but little waste 

 time and expenditure of physical strength. 



Nests have also been found attached to the 

 piers of bridges. In many localities there seems 

 to be a decided partiality for such positions. In a 

 rural part of Germantown, upon the east bank of 

 a small tributary of the Wissahickon creek, stands 

 a dilapidated building which is annually resorted 

 to by these Swallows, for nidificating purposes, 

 At this time,"solitude and retirement are infinitely 

 more desirable than sociality. Many birds which 

 are pre-eminently gregarious before and after 



