BANK SWALLOW. 165 



nests of all other North American birds, is the 

 remarkable fact that cast-off snake skins are used 

 in its construction. This is true even in localities 

 where snakes are so uncommon that an ordinary 

 person may spend a lifetime without finding one 

 of their skins. Surely the birds must possess keen 

 eyes and much local knowledge of the haunts of 

 the snakes when the shedding process is going on ! 

 Mrs. Treat tells of a pair of great-crested fly- 

 catchers that built in a bird-house on top of the 

 stable. First, she says, they go to all the bird- 

 houses " scattered about on the posts " in the 

 vineyard, but as we would expect of such aristo- 

 crats, choose " the finest establishment on the 

 premises a three -storied, octagon house, sur- 

 mounted with a cupola and spire, with a weather 

 vane and ball attached." Though a pair of blue- 

 birds have kept all would-be tenants away for 

 several years, they offer no resistance to the fly- 

 catchers, who settle in the empty cupola. 



L. 



BANK SWALLOW; SAND MARTIN. 



LIKE the kingfisher the bank swallow excavates 

 a hole for his nest, and when you are driving 

 through cuts in sand or clay banks you will often 

 see the birds pop out of their holes in the sides 

 and fly off up in the air. They are the plainest 



