2i6 BEACH GRASS 



building in a natural cave in Essex County. It 

 nests in artificial caves made by the white man, 

 in out-buildings and, above all, in barns. 



What is more charming than an ancient barn 

 filled with the sweet scent of hay and the song of 

 the barn swallows! The doors stand open, the 

 windows have many gaps in their frames. 

 Through these inviting openings the swallows are 

 constantly gliding. I have known many such 

 barns but of one that I know intimately at Ipswich 

 I would speak here. Not only did barn swallows 

 nest in large numbers in its cavernous interior but 

 a large colony of eave swallows built their retort- 

 shaped nests under its liberal eaves. I once 

 counted on the beams and rafters of this barn 

 fifty-five barn swallows' nests. These are made 

 of globules of gray mud brought by the birds in 

 their bills, firmly plastered together and mixed 

 with straw. They are lined with hay and 

 feathers. In late June and in July one may lie 

 in the fragrant hay and listen to a concert of 

 great beauty and watch a scene constantly chang- 

 ing and full of interest. The old birds are ever 

 flying in and out, skimming close to the floor or 



