BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



the birds go to the buildings unoccupied by 

 man. In looking through an old deserted 

 church that years ago had been the centre of an 

 Indian mission, it was found to contain eight 

 nests of fork-tailed Swallows that had found 

 their way in through some open niche. 



"So the old church is still doing missionary 

 work," said the bird lover who lingered there. 



One of the most picturesque homes of the 

 birds is an old house on a foothill of the Blue 

 Mountains, overlooking what was once an 

 Indian battle ground. Outside the steep roof, 

 picturesque gables and quaint knocker ; inside, 

 the carved staircase, broad fireplace and wall 

 cupboards in unexpected corners proclaim its 

 age. It is the boyhood home of one of Canada's 

 brilliant men who passed away only a few years 

 ago. For some time the old home has been 

 unoccupied by human beings, but the feathered 

 creatures had found it out. Little Wrens 

 nested in crevices about the buildings and 

 fork-tailed Swallows plastered their nests 

 under the eaves. One night a violent storm 

 of wind and rain broke a pane of glass in one 

 of the upstairs windows. A pair of Barn Swal- 

 lows that Sparrows had chased from a near-by 



[34] 



