Cliff Swallows 
By FRANK A. BROWN, Beverly, Mass. 
With a photograph by the author 
KIMMING abundantly over the fields of grass and alders, digging 
S in the clayey mud along the seashore and inland streams, the easily 
identified and confiding cliff Swallow is one of the most common and 
abundant residents of eastern Maine and of the Nova Scotian valleys. Where 
I have watched it during the last season, in Washington county, Maine, and 
the vicinity of Grand Pré, N. S., it outnumbered by far all the other Swallows. 
Scarcely an available barn, in certain spots, but has its nests in varying quan- 
tities. On one small barn I counted one hundred and seventy-eight of the 
clay nests hanging in rows and clusters from one side alone, and many others 
have easily supported at least one hundred nests. From these colonies the 
birds are continuously circling the immediate door-yards of the barns and 
houses, and flying abroad over the orchards and fields on easy wing in pur- 
suit of food and pleasure. At night and morning, especially, and at certain 
other times of the day, all of the Swallows of the colony seem to be on the 
wing in the vicinity of the nests. At other times there are simply individuals 
going and returning from greater distances. 
TI have carefully questioned many farmers, from place to place, as to their 
disposition toward the birds, and have found in practically all cases much 
love for the little fellows. Their coming is eagerly looked for and welcomed 
in the spring, and their cheerful company and confident tameness are the 
especial joy of the children. As well, all the testimony was to the effect that 
the flies and mosquitos were noticeably decreased by their presence. To make 
a rough estimate of their benefits to the farmers in the consumption of insects, 
I lay on my back close by a small colony, and, by watching for half an hour 
a nest where there were four young birds, estimating two or three insects 
being brought at a feeding, about nine hundred would be consumed by that 
family each fifteen-hour day of its rearing. 
The seeking of mud for the nest-building I found particularly interesting 
to watch. In one place was a trench dug some five feet deep, and with a most 
inviting bed of soft sticky clay at the bottom. The Swallows were making 
the most of the opening of such a mine, and, through the entire forenoon that 
I observed them, they flocked in numbers and worked most conscientiously. 
As they were so fearless in flight, not hesitating to come within a foot or two, 
I thought it possible to watch them within some ten or fifteen feet, by getting 
down into the trench and remaining quiet; but, after some twenty minutes 
of it, I found that it would not work, and that I was only wasting their precious 
minutes of a pleasant June day. So, having a brown poncho, I fastened it 
by rocks across the trench, got a box for a seat behind it, and, hiding in its 
shelter, was within a few feet of them in asmany minutes. They came in eager 
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