92 Land Birds of New England 



are laid in the latter part of May, and there are 

 usually two sets. The first nest is thoroughly re- 

 paired, and used for the second brood. 

 The notes are merely a rapid chatter. 



LITERATURE: 



Little Brothers of the Air. OLIVE THORNE MILLER. 

 The Footpath Way. (Art. "The Passing of the Birds.") BRAD- 

 FORD TORREY. 



43. BARN SWALLOW (Chelidon erythrogaster.*) 



Upper parts deep steel-blue; wings and tail blackish, the latter 

 with white spots ; under parts chestnut, generally deepest on 

 throat. Wings very long ; tail deeply forked. Beak and feet 

 black, weak. Bird nearly as large as a sparrow. Sexes alike, 

 but color of female less intense. 



THE barn swallow, as its name implies, is to be 

 found chiefly in the neighborhood of barns and 

 other outhouses, especially about those which have 

 openings in the gables to permit passage, and rough 

 rafters suitable for the attachment of nests. Like 

 all swallows, they are readily recognizable from the 

 sustained, skimming flight ; and this species may 

 be easily distinguished from all others by the deeply 

 forked tail, a characteristic which is wanting to the 

 young. They come to us in late April, and leave in 

 early September. " The dandelion tells me when 

 to look for the swallow." BURROUGHS. 



