BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



insects their mother is bringing. At intervals 

 this chatter can be heard until late at night, for 

 in hot weather the Chimney Swifts catch their 

 food at night and in the early morning. In the 

 cooler days, however, they may be seen hunting 

 for insects during the day. 



A Chimney Swift's nest is supposed to con- 

 tain four or five eggs, but on looking down our 

 old chimney one year, no less than ten were 

 counted. Whether they all hatched out we do 

 not know, but one thing is certain, the nest 

 was full to overflowing, for one wee little black 

 Chimney Swift was crowded out and, tumbling 

 over the edge, slipped down into the stove pipe, 

 the accident causing such a twittering and 

 chattering and fluttering among them all that 

 the pipe had to be taken apart and the baby 

 Chimney Swift restored to its family, other- 

 wise the family of humans would have had but 

 little sleep that night. 



"Why do you let them stay?" some people 

 ask. "Are they not a nuisance?" They are 

 not a nuisance and why should they not stay? 

 Is it not they who catch the mosquitoes and 

 night insects, thus making our verandah a rest- 

 ful place on the hot summer evenings? 



[24] 



