Bird Families 
Family Hirundinide : SWALLOWS 
Birds of the air, that take their insect food on the wing. 
Migratory. Flight strong, skimming, darting; exceedingly 
graceful. When not flying they choose slender, conspicuous 
perches like telegraph wires, gutters, and eaves of barns. Plu- 
mage of some species dull, of others iridescent blues and greens 
above, whitish or ruddy below. Sexes similar. Bills small ; 
mouths large. Long and pointed wings, generally reaching the 
tip of the tail or beyond. Tail more or less forked. Feet small 
and weak from disuse. Song a twittering warble without power. 
Gregarious birds. 
Barn Swallow. 
Bank Swallow. 
Cliff (or Eaves) Swallow. 
Tree Swallow. 
Bough-winged Swallow. 
Purple Martin. 
Family Ampelide : WAXWINGS 
Medium-sized Quaker-like birds, with plumage of soft 
browns and grays. Head crested ; black band across forehead 
and through the eye. Bodies plump fromindolence. Tail tipped 
with yellow ; wings with red tips to coverts, resembling sealing- 
wax. Sexes similar. Silent, gentle, courteous, elegant birds. 
Usually seen in large flocks feeding upon berries in the trees or 
perching on the branches, except at the nesting season. Voices 
resemble a soft, lisping twitter. 
Cedar Bird. 
Bohemian Waxwing. 
Family Lantide : SHRIKES 
Medium-sized grayish, black-and-white birds, with hooked 
and hawk-like bill for tearing the flesh of smaller birds, field- 
mice, and large insects that they impale on thorns. Handsome, 
bold birds, the terror of all small, feathered neighbors, not ex- 
cluding the English sparrow. They choose conspicuous perches 
when on the lookout for prey : a projecting or dead limb of a 
9 
