62 



is chosen. One of our pictures shows a nest that is built 

 on the cutter of a mowing machine, this having been laid 

 across two nails. Many farmers, realizing the value of 

 these birds about their places, nail small bits of board to 

 the bottom of some of the beams, so as to give their little 

 friends a firm foundation for their homes. 



Time after time, I have hidden in a hay mow just to 

 watch these exceedingly graceful creatures as they skimmed 

 in through the barn door, swept upward and landed, light 

 as feathers, on the edge of their nests. Always, as they 

 glided through the door, I would hear their musical twitter; 



Fig. 52. YOUNG BARN SWALLOWS. 



A II from one nest but probably belonging to two pairs or 

 swallows. 



the little birds, waiting in the nest were listening intentl}- 

 for that same twitter and were always all standing up with 

 wings fluttering and mouths wide open ready to greet their 

 parent when he or she arrived. Each parent usually 

 brought enough every trip to go the rounds of the hungry 

 mouths. The food was composed almost wholly of gnats 

 and other tiny insects that can be caught in great quantities 



