of f 



caves and hollow trees ? It is a most extraordinary 

 change, this change from the trees to the chimneys, 

 and it does not seem to have been accompanied by 

 an increase of architectural wisdom necessary to 

 meet all the contingencies of the new hollow. The 

 mortar or glue, which, I imagine, held firmly in the 

 empty trees, will not mix with the chimney soot, so 

 that the nest, especially when crowded with young, 

 is easily loosened by the rain, and is sometimes even 

 broken away by the slight wing-stroke of a descend- 

 ing swallow, or by the added weight of a parent bird 

 as it settles with food. 



We little realize how frequent fear is among the 

 birds and animals, nor how often it proves fatal. A 

 situation which would have caused no trouble ordi- 

 narily, becomes through sudden fright a tangle or a 

 trap. I have known many a quail to bolt into a fast 

 express train and fall dead. Last winter I left the 

 large door of the barn open, so that my flock of j un- 

 cos could feed inside upon the floor. They found 

 their way into the hayloft, and went up and down 

 freely. On two or three occasions I happened in so 

 suddenly that they were thoroughly frightened, and 

 flew madly into the cupola to escape through the 



98 



