AT WORK AND PLAY 221 



swallow. For several days before they left the 

 nest the five young birds seemed fully grown and 

 fully feathered. The chief difference between 

 them and their parents was the fact that they 

 lacked the long outer feathers of the tail. The 

 five heads and necks with their neat brown throat- 

 bibs presented a charming appearance, extending 

 in a row over the edge of the nest. Their shin- 

 ing black eyes looked at me unafraid. When a 

 parent appeared, all their yellow mouths flew 

 open in eager expectancy and all twittered be- 

 seechingly. Usually only one, sometimes two, 

 were rewarded by a mouthful of insect food. A 

 day arrived when the parents flew under the porch 

 back and forth close to the nest as if to entice 

 the young birds, but not feeding them. Several 

 of their friends joined them, for at times there 

 were four or even five birds flying before the 

 gallery of the young. 



The next day there were only three birds in the 

 nest after the early morning, but the two wan- 

 derers returned at sunset. On the following day 

 all five flew off at eight in the morning. At times 

 they rested in trees and were fed by the parents, 



