722 The Sparrow-like Birds 



carries up into the palm tree sticks astonishingly large for its size. They are also 

 very noisy birds with an aggressive way about them, arid at intervals they set 

 up a tremendous racket, every bird in the colony suddenly, and as if at a given 

 signal, making as much noise as possible. This lasts for about ten seconds or 

 so, and then stops as suddenly as it began. They feed on both fruits and 

 insects. 



The White-naped Palm Chat (D. nuchalis) is known from a single specimen 

 said to have come from Brazil, but more probably from some West Indian island; 

 it is similar to the other, but has a white patch on the nape. 



THE WOOD SWALLOWS 



(Family Artamidce) 



There is a small group of little, "chubby," Swallow-like birds in the Indian 

 and Australian regions known as the Wood Swallows, the affinities of which 

 have been the subject of not a little uncertainty and speculation among bird 

 students. By some they are regarded as being most closely related to the Shrikes 

 (Laniidai), on which account they are often called, especially by the Anglo-Indian 

 ornithologists, the Swallow-Shrikes, while others would place them next the 

 Orioles (Oriolidci) or Starlings (Slurnidce). All things considered, it seems 

 likely that their affinities are more with the Waxwings (Ampelida) and the true 

 Swallows (Hirundinidce), and they are here placed near these groups. They 

 are small, active birds, mostly about seven and a half inches in length, with long, 

 pointed bills with the nostrils placed low, rather short, broad tails, and long, 

 ample wings which reach to the end of the tail. The plumage is mostly brown, 

 gray, or black above, relieved in some species by a pure white rump and lower 

 back, and largely white or gray below. 



The Wood Swallows are largely insectivorous, although Gould mentions that 

 some are occasionally observed to feed on the seeds of the grass tree. They 

 frequent mostly open or sparsely wooded regions, where they may be found usu- 

 ally in small parties of a dozen or less; at times, however, they congregate in 

 large flocks. Their insect food is taken largely on the wing and during its pur- 

 suit they exhibit much of the ease and grace of movement that characterizes the 

 true Swallows, now rising high above the tree-tops, now falling to near the 

 surface as the insects attract their attention. It is not an uncommon sight to 

 see a dozen seated on the branches of a tree, from which vantage point one after 

 another may sally forth in pursuit of passing insects. There is little concert of 

 action among them, however, each resting or hawking for food as inclination 

 prompts. Occasionally when flying insects are scarce they are known to descend 

 to the ground to search for beetles and other ground-haunting forms. While 

 some species are undoubtedly migratory, coming and going with the change of 

 seasons, others are almost as certainly permanent residents where found. 



One of the most remarkable habits of the Wood Swallows is that occasionally 

 observed of their "bunching" or clustering together in great numbers after the 



