BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



gables, its shingled roof, and its chimney that 

 stands high above the tree- tops. Down be- 

 neath the chimney is the old wood fire-place, 

 old wood furnace, or huge wood-stove. It is a 

 big broad chimney with plenty of room to ac- 

 commodate the Chimney Swift's numerous 

 family and still leave space enough for the old 

 ones to move about and bring food to the little 

 ones. In such a chimney live the Chimney 

 Swifts, Chimney Swallows they are frequently 

 called, though they do not belong to the swal- 

 low family. 



All the bright, hot June days they give little 

 evidence of their presence there, but at twilight, 

 when the sunset sky is gold and crimson behind 

 the elms, they dart out and circle widely round, 

 high above the chimney and the tree-tops, 

 sometimes darting downwards and then up 

 again, then down the chimney, then out again, 

 as if they were playing some absorbing bird 

 game. In reality they are catching, on the 

 wing, supper for all the hungry nestlings. 

 When they dart down the chimney there can 

 be heard in the room from which it opens the 

 chatter of the little ones as the mouths open 

 for the midges, mosquitoes and various other 

 [23] 



