82 Bird -Lore 



After a time, instead of placing the feathers on the ground, I 

 would toss one into the air for them as they approached. This 

 pleased them best of all, and they seldom missed one unless the 

 wind carried it back under the piazza, when in their frantic attempts 

 to catch it ere it fell, the whir of wings would beat almost in my 

 face. One day I saw a Swallow sitting on the weather vane which 

 surmounted the barn, and tossed out a feather, wondering if he would 

 notice it. The instant it left my hand he darted like an arrow 

 across the dooryard, seized it before it touched the ground, and made 

 off with it to the barn. 



My appearance on the piazza was the signal for their approach. 

 They seemed to be watching for me and would start at once toward 

 the house, making a peculiar noise. Many a morning on going out 

 I have found them flying to and fro before the door, calling for 

 me, and the instant a feather was tossed in the air they would all 

 dive for it, often coming close to me. Several attempts to have 

 them take one from my hand were never quite successful ; they 

 would look longingly at it and fly back and forth almost near enough, 

 but in the end their courage always failed them. 



They were chiefly Barn Swallows, with their chestnut throats, 

 glossy blue backs and forked tails, that came about the door. Oc- 

 casionally a White-bellied, or Tree Swallow, or a Bank Swallow, 

 in his dusky coat, would join the procession, circling swiftly before 

 me ; and a few times Eave Swallows were seen among the rest, 

 the whitish crescent on the forehead making them easily conspicu- 

 ous. 



A surprisingly large number of feathers were carried off. One 

 lady remarked that if they were all used for lining the nests the 

 young ones would certainly be smothered. The morning was the 

 busiest time, though occasionally the birds would come for them 

 late in the afternoon. 



For nearly three weeks this activity continued, but toward the 

 end of May their visits became less frequent and with the coming 

 of summer their time was given to feeding the young, whose heads 

 could be seen protruding from every nest in the barn. 



