134 WHEN THE SWALLOWS 



times they declare their independence by perching 

 on the dense, strong vegetation of the marshes, but 

 the wires are favourite roosts* This shows a ready 

 adaptability* As the Swift, easily distinguished by 

 its round tail and dull, sooty plumage, adopted 

 chimneys in preference to hollow trees, so the 

 Swallows, also feeders on the minute insects of the 

 air, prefer the wires to their old and natural perches. 

 The Bank Swallows organise the most conspicuous 

 flocks. As is their custom, the place where they 

 swarmed noisily in the evening, filling the air with 

 their disturbed chattering and scarcely leaving room 

 in the air for their insect food, will be left in the 

 morning silent and deserted. Their plumage is dull, 

 dark above and light below, and the dark breast band 

 makes a conspicuous mark as they line up on the 

 wires. They are industrious burrowers, and have 

 reared their young in holes in the many favourable 

 banks furnished by cliffs and ravines. The Barn 

 Swallows, the most gaily decorated of the family, 

 have already begun to leave for the south, but a few 

 remain and will probably join the flocks of their 

 relatives. Reddish breasts, glittering blue-green 

 backs, and deeply-forked tails spotted with white, 

 distinguish them from the other swift chatterers that 

 pursue the insects rising from the marshes. They 

 are good masons, and attach nests of mud to the 

 rafters and eaves of barns. The Tree Swallow is 



