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Notes on the White-browed Wood Siuallow.



The writer’s attachment to these birds must certainly be for

some reason other than their trustfulness. They are about the most

difficult birds, from a photographer’s point of view, that we have come

in contact with. Some small birds, after a short time, have become

so trustful as to feed their young on our hands or shoulders. Such

a thing in a wild Wood Swallow is barely imaginable. From the

time the photographer arrives until he is tired of the “fun” and

moves on to similar treatment at the next nest the irate parents

sweep down from their tree and back again almost unceasingly—a

vicious snap of the beak at camera or operator on both the outward

and the return journey. Various tricks of the trade to which most

birds will usually succumb are useless. On one occasion the young

from three different nests, labelled to show their correct addresses,

were removed to a point between the nests in the hope that there

would be one brave parent among the six, or that the greater number

interested would make them bolder. The unexpected result was a

harvest of feathers from a six-handed battle in mid-air. The human

sentiments regarding comrades in distress apparently does not apply

to Wood Swallows. The labels were hastily consulted and the causes

of the trouble returned to their respective homes. This tendency to

fight at the smallest provocation disappears as soon as the young are

safely on the wing. The augmented flock again soars in harmony,

and the feuds of nesting days are forgotten.


On two occasions only has success attended our photographic

efforts. In the first case, both birds showed up with the required

courage and actually visited the nest together. Unfortunately a ten-

shilling box camera was in use at that time, and the picture is not

wdiat it might have been. On the other occasion the apparatus was

better, but the male refused to be convinced of the harmlessness of

the camera. The female, after a couple of hours’ indecision, gave the

photographers unlimited opportunities.


Notwithstanding a bad record from a photographic point of view,

the Wood Swallow cannot do otherwise than command the admira¬

tion of every Nature lover. The easy, soaring flight and the charac¬

teristic circular movement of the tail when at rest provide a fitting

setting for the graceful form and slaty-grey plumage. A proudly

defiant parent sitting on its small, frail nest, or a family of five on a



