332 CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 



attempt. I had scarcely returned to Louisville, when a violent thunder- 

 storm passed suddenly over the town, and its appearance made me think 

 that the hurry of the Swallows to enter the tree was caused by their 

 anxiety to avoid it. I thought of the Swallows almost the whole night, 

 so anxious had I become to ascertain their number, before the time of 

 their departure should arrive. 



Next morning I rose early enough to reach the place long before the 

 least appearance of daylight, and placed my head against the tree. All 

 was silent within. I remained in that posture probably twenty minutes, 

 when suddenly I thought the great tree was giving way, and coming 

 down upon me. Instinctively I sprung from it, but when I looked up 

 to it again, what was my astonishment to see it standing as firm as ever. 

 The Swallows were now pouring out in a black continued stream. I ran 

 back to my post, and listened in amazement to the noise within, which I 

 could compare to nothing else than the sound of a large wheel revolving 

 under a powerful stream. It was yet dusky, so that I could hardly see 

 the hour on my watch, but I estimated the time which they took in get- 

 ting out at more than thirty minutes. After their departure, no noise was 

 heard within, and they dispersed in every direction with the quickness of 

 thought. 



I immediately formed the project of examining the interior of the 

 tree, which, as my kind friend, Major Crogham, had told me, proved 

 the most remarkable I had ever met with. This I did, in company 

 with a hunting associate. We went provided with a strong line and 

 a rope, the first of which we, after several trials, succeeded in throwing 

 across the broken branch. Fastening the rope to the line we drew it up, 

 and pulled it over until it reached the ground again. Provided with 

 the longest cane we could find, I mounted the tree by the rope, without 

 accident, and at length seated myself at ease on the broken branch ; but 

 my labour was fruitless, for I could see nothing through the hole, and 

 the cane, which was about fifteen feet long, touched nothing on the sides 

 of the tree within that could give any information. I came down fatigued 

 and disappointed. 



The next day I hired a man, who cut a hole at the base of the tree. 

 The shell was only eight or nine inches thick, and the axe soon brought 

 the inside to view, disclosing a matted mass of exuviae, with rotten feathers 

 reduced to a kind of mould, in which, however, I could perceive frag- 

 ments of insects and quills. I had a passage cleared, or rather bored 



