THE SWALLOWS. 385 



The materials used in tlic construction are soft grasses, featliers, and tlic 

 bark of tlie cedar and grape-vine. The eggs are usually about six in num- 

 ber. Their color is a dull-gray ; and they arc marked, thickest near tiic 

 great end, with small spots ot' rcddish-hrowu, and a ihw dabs of a darker 

 color. ]Mr. Allen speaks of a nest being found " in a large elm in Court 

 Square, Springfield, about ten feet from the ground, and built behind a strip 

 of thick bark that projected in sucli a way as to leave a protected cavity be- 

 hind it." Dimensions of eggs average about .7(1 by .50 inch. 



Of the Nuthatches, there are several species in America, and a number in 

 the Old World. Their habits are similar to those of tlie creepers above 

 presented, witii the exception of their choice of a nesting-place ; for the 

 nulhatches often excavate a hole in the solid wood of a tree, which labor is 

 not difficult, since the bird is jjossessed of a strong, wedge-shaped, pointed 

 bill. 



Family IIiruxdinid.k. Swallows. 



This group, the true Swallows, the characteristics of which are given in a 

 preceding page, includes all those familiar, well-known birds, the Barn, 

 Cliff, "White-bellied, and Bank Swallows, and I'urple IMartin of America, the 

 Window and Conunon Swallows of Europe, and many others. The Chim- 

 ney Swallows, or Swifts, are placed in another group. 



The habits of these birds are so well-known that we will not notice them 

 at any great length in this work. 



The Barn Swallow, a universal favorite, arrives in New England and its 

 latitude between the tenth and tlie twenty-fifth of April. It quickly dis- 

 perses, and soon commences [)rcparations for nesting. About the tenth of 

 May, after the birds have paired, they commence building ; or sometimes 

 the same couple begin repairing tlie nest, of the preceding year or years, as 

 the same nest is occupied several seasons. It is built in the eaves of houses 

 or barns, or on rafters of barns and other buildings. It is constructed out- 

 wardly of a strong shell of pellets of mud, which are plastered togctlicr, 

 and, as Nuttall says, "tempered with fine hay, and rendered more adhesive 

 by the glutinous saliva of the l)ird.'' This nest is built out and up until the 

 top is about horizontal, and then lined witli a layer of fine grass or hay, 

 which is covered with loose feathers. This bird is fond of society, often as 

 many as twenty nests being in tiic same eaves. The eggs are usually four 

 in number, sometimes five. They are of a ncarlv pure-white color, with a 

 slight roseate tint ; and are spotted more or less thicklv with fine dots of two 

 shades of brown, reddish, and purplish. The dimensions of the eggs aver- 

 age about .76 by .52 inch. Two broods, and sometimes three, arc reared in 

 the season. The period of incubation is thirteen days. 



About the first week in September, the old and young birds of diflferent 

 NO. X. 49 



