212 



THE OOLOGJST. 



pair of them industriously engaged in 

 building a nest, within an arm's reach 

 of the nest of a Robin, and have seen 

 nests within a few inches of the nest of 

 a Phoebe, but I do not know that both 

 nests were occupied at the same time. 

 But, let a Hawk, or an Owl, or a similar 

 bird approach and this Swallow will 

 become a perfect demon of ferocity, sav- 

 agely attacking and actually driving 

 from the field a bird for which it would 

 hardly make a mouthful. Its method 

 of attack is to circle around its victim, 

 and suddenly make a dive towards it, 

 generally aiming for its eyes, and by its 

 own wonderful agility, avoiding a re- 

 turn stroke; it will again circle and re- 

 turn to the attack. I have no knowl- 

 edge of any bird being seriously injured 

 by the Barn Swallow, but I have often 

 seen it attack, and put to flight both 

 Cooper's Hawk and the Sharp-shinned 

 Hawk. 



Its powers of flight are marvelous. 

 Wilson estimated that in its ordinary 

 flight, it's speed would average more 

 than a mile a minute, for ten hours in 

 each day. In rapidity and gracefulness 

 of it's evolutions, no bird with which I 

 am acquainted, with the exception of 

 its near relative, the Eave Swallow, can 

 compare with it. True, the Humming- 

 bird may be able to dart more rapidly 

 from flower to flower, and to change 

 it's course more quickly; but its flight 

 is erratic, and in an abruptly, zig zag 

 direction, while that of that of the 

 Swallow is regular and graceful, and in 

 long, sweeping curves. 



By watching it's flight one may judge 

 somewhat of the coming weather, for, 

 while in pleasant weather it will always 

 soar high in the air, just before a storm 

 it will fly very close to the ground, 

 sometimes almost touching the tall 

 grass. Doubtless this is owing to a 

 similar habit of the insects of which it 

 is in pursuit. It is purely insectiver- 

 ous. and invariably takes it's food upon 

 the wing; and, although it has .been ac- 



cused, and perhaps justly, of destroy- 

 ing the honey bee, it is regarded as one 

 of the most beneficial of birds. 



CO. Ormsbee, 

 Montpelier, Vt. 



A Crank- 



How often we have seen him hurry- 

 ing off early in the morning to return 

 laden yvith what he calls treasures. 

 Treasures indeed! Weeds, flowers, 

 bugs and birds which perhaps we have 

 never seen. Always eager to be off on 

 his rambles, preferring this to other 

 sports, and returning with a calm, hap- 

 py air whether he has found his treas- 

 ures or is tired, empty-handed and 

 be-dragltd with mud and dust. 



Perhaps he is also an ardent desciple 

 of Isaak Walton, and a prospective 

 Nimrod. Willing to take countless 

 tramps and come back empty handed 

 as cheerfully as when attended by bet- 

 ter luck. 



Now you and I call this fellow a 

 "crank." What can be the attraction 

 in such pursuits. True his collections 

 are pretty, but he doesn't seem to care 

 for that alone. He will gi'ind out an 

 endless strain on the wonders of this 

 and that, which may happen to be a 

 commonplace plant or bug. We con- 

 template him with a sort of patronizing 

 pity that he should fritter away his 

 time in such an unprofitable manner. 



Ah! my friends could you but read 

 his inmost thoughts you would see your 

 pity worse than wasted. It is he who 

 can pity, for your lack of enthusiasm, 

 that you live on unmindful of the beau- 

 tiful things around you. He is a crank 

 because he loves Nature and delights in 

 delving among the secret wonders with 

 which her storehouses are filled, yes, 

 even to overflowing. More than this, 

 he realizes in these wonders the mani- 

 festations of his Maker, in the whisper- 

 ing forest in the joyous songs of birds 

 and insects, in the murmer of the rill, 



