THE TRAVELS OF BIRDS 



the night. Before this country was settled the 

 Swifts nested and roosted in hollow trees. Now, 

 as we all know, they use chimneys, and the roost- 

 ing chimney is usually a large one. 



The early arrivals do not enter the chimney at 

 once. In fact no Swifts go to bed until practi- 

 cally all have come. Then they fly in a great, 

 irregular troop around and around in the air 

 over the chimney. Faster and faster they go, 

 nearer and nearer they come to the chimney-top. 

 Then, like a whirling column of smoke, a part of 

 them pour into the chimney. The others go 

 flying madly onward. Again they approach the 

 chimney and another group of birds darts spi- 

 rally into it. This performance is repeated until 

 not a Swift remains outside. What a singular 

 appearance the walls of the chimney must pre- 

 sent at this time, with its hundreds and often 

 thousands of soot-colored birds clinging to them! 

 In the morning the Swifts leave in small parties, 

 and at once separate widely over the country 

 in search of food. 



In southwestern Minnesota there is a small 

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