Tree Swallows in a Bird-box 



By RICHARD M. HUNT. Winchester, Mass. 



Illustrated bj- the author 



EARLY in the spring of 1902, before any migrants had ventured north, 

 I placed a bird -box in a maple tree not far from my window, hoping 

 to get a pair of Bluebirds to stay, a little later on. A pair of Blue- 

 birds came, indeed, but they paid no attention to the snug home in the 

 maple tree — until it was too late; for, about the first of May, a pair of 

 Tree Swallows were seen circling about the box, and plainly announcing 

 their intention to take possession, by giving continual utterance to their 

 joyful, gurgling twitters. Just now, however, the Bluebirds began to dis- 

 pute the Swallows' right to the box, to their sorrow, for the Swallows 

 trounced them soundly. 



Now the Swallows began to build, but soon began to encounter diffi- 

 culties in the shape of English Sparrows. These little scoundrels would 

 seize the opportunity, when the Swallows were away, to pull the carefully 

 made nest from the box and scatter it in all directions. One day a Sparrow 

 was caught in the act. He had just entered the Swallows' house, when he 

 was seen by one of the real owners. The Swallow went inside also, and I 

 could hear a loud squawking there. Finally the Swallow appeared, tail first, 

 dragging the Sparrow by the nape of the neck. When outside, the Swal- 

 low shook that Sparrow as a dog shakes a rat, and dropped him at the foot 

 of the tree ! The defeated tramp limped away, and, I have good reason 

 to believe, never troubled the Swallows again. In fact, the Swallows were 

 never troubled seriously again by any bird. They were the true owners of 

 their home, and deserved to be. 



Now the Tree Swallows settled down seriously, raised their brood, and 

 departed before July. 



Early on the morning of March 27, 1903, I was returning from my 

 usual before -breakfast bird-walk. As I approached my house, I thought I 

 heard a familiar sound — a joyful, gurgling twitter. I glanced at the long- 

 deserted bird -box, and there were apparently my Tree Swallows. They had 

 safely sustained the long migration, and here they were, the undisputed 

 masters of the box. 



For about three weeks after their arrival they could be seen perching 

 near the box, or flying about it, although, for some reason, they would 

 never enter it. 



On April 17, they were seen to enter their box several times, and also 



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