'■^lio niicrdh' of May. It is a vi-rv bonclicial tipccics, destroying- 

 insects in the trees, and also flying insects. The nest is on a 

 low linil) of some small tree, and is constructed of strips of 

 bark, grasses and -weeds, all being glued together by the saliva 

 of the bird. It is lined Avith soft cottony substances. Eggs 

 ibnr ill nunibor. Avhitc, Avith spots of brOAvn. 



Family Hiium>[mi).i.. 



Till-: S\\ ALf-ous. — The swalloAAs are all beneficial in their 

 habits, subsisting on insects, Avhich they are continually catch- 

 ing for themselves and their young. There are four species 

 i'ommon in Essex county as folIoAVS : Cliif or Eave S\vall(m% 

 Barn Suallov^-, "\Miitc-bellied Swallow and Bank SwalloAV. 

 These build their nests respectively on cliffs or eaves, in barns, 

 in boxes put up for their accommodation, and in sand banks. 

 The habits of this family of birds arc so Avell-known that am- 

 'des(Ti[)tIon is siiperihions. The Purple Martin also belongs to 

 this family, but is not now very common in Essex county. 

 Farmers Avould do well, howCA'cr, to put up martin-boxes for 

 its acconuuodation, and thus try to induce k ore (»f these l)irds 

 -to settle \\ith us, as they are very beneficial. 



AAiPKLfs ci:!)i;f)i;i\i — lia'ud . 



Ckdauiuui), CilHKUVlUltM). — To those Avho cultivate small 

 fruits thi.s bird is doubtless a considerable trouble, but U) far- 

 aners in general it is as beneficial as almost any other bird, Nut- 

 ;tall>;"ys, " They fiiil not to assist in ridding the trees of the 

 I deadly enemies Avhich infest them, and the small cateipillars, 

 i beetles and various insects now [in spiing] constitute their 

 • only food."" The nest of this species is placed on a hori/.ontal 

 'branch of a tree, and i.; ijuilt of roojs, grasses, leases and 

 •grape-vine bark. Eggs, four or fire in number, are of a 

 'bluish-white color, and are marked Avitli spots of black and 

 1 brown. 



ViUKc^s-^r.A'i V oLH' ACK A — lionajHir/c. 



Tin: Bi:i)-i;vi;i) \'iirK(.>. — This little bird is desei-vedlv a 



