^iSS^"^] WiUMANN, aahherct Island Bird Roosts. 25 



number of Bank Swallows {Clivicola riparia). They arrive low 

 over the water in laro;e droves and immediately mix with the flying 

 Martins, taking; part in all their evolutions and manoeuvres, and 

 their squeaky voices become soon prominent amidst the soft notes 

 of Progne. 



Just before dark the region along the water's edge is fairly 

 swarming with new arrivals, and in the same degree as the descent 

 of Martins progresses, the proportion of the little Bank Swallows 

 increases until toward the end they constitute the majority of the 

 whirling birds. A few troops even arrive after all are down 

 behind the willow tops, when night is getting ready to cover the 

 island with her protecting wings. But even now are the roosting 

 birds not yet at rest, and there is considerable stir and commotion 

 going on among them. Numbers of restless birds are fluttering 

 among the willow tops, apparently exchanging uncomfortable 

 perches for more desirable ones, and a strange, confused noise is 

 heard. 



Martins and Bank Swallows are now sitting promiscuously in 

 the upper branches of the willows, often half a dozen in one 

 treetop and several on one little branch. This good-fellowship 

 lasts throughout the season from the time they leave the nest 

 till their common departure in September. 



Swallows belong to our most sociable birds ; not only do they 

 vastly congregate among themselves, they also associate with other 

 birds of gregarious habits, especially Blackbirds. 



Since the feeding habits of the two families differ widely, the only 

 opportunity for their association is to be found in the roost, and 

 our great Gabberet roost bears splendid witness of such an affili- 

 ation, for the same willows that harbor the Martins and Bank 

 Swallows are the nightly resort for thousands of Bronzed Crackles 

 and Cowbirds. 



There are plenty of Crackles' roosts scattered over the 

 country, and they are a common occurrence in the larger river 

 bottoms, but the arrival of the big flocks on the island in the 

 evening is nevertheless a very pretty sight and an acceptable pre- 

 lude to the grand spectacle to follow. They come to the roost 

 pretty early in the evening, when the sun is yet above the horizon, 

 and all the flocks that come from the Missouri side invariably 



