138 A SWALLOW-WOOING 



two nests, but did not get far with either, and 

 at last they came no more. They doubtless 

 settled in the barn and made part of the 

 lively party ever circling over the grass and 

 looking all alike to me. 



Barn-swallows are greater singers than is 

 usually appreciated, their voices being gen- 

 erally soft and low, though I have heard 

 them sing as loud as a bobolink. Those 

 about me in that corner of the world had 

 very interesting songs. One would perch on 

 the roof of an extension and give a long-con- 

 tinued song, twelve or fourteen notes, and 

 constantly repeated, so that he kept it up 

 several minutes at a time, before closing with 

 the open-mouth explosive sound that usually 

 ends it. Often I have surprised one perched 

 on a dead tree singing away for dear life all 

 alone, and one often sang as he flew over. 



The barn-swallow is always a talkative 

 bird, and his voice has a wonderfully human 

 quality. A little party of three or four flying 

 leisurely over, not on food intent, will often 

 be chatting sociably together. Even when 

 just out of the nest, the babies are great 

 chatterers, and one whose ears are open to 



