36 Bird Life Stories 



have a slight tinge of flesh color. The whole weighs about 

 two pounds. 



There are generally two broods in the season. The first 

 makes its appearance about the second week in June, and the 

 last brood leaves the nest about the loth of August. Though 

 it is not uncommon for twenty or even thirty pairs to build in 

 the same barn, yet everything seems to be conducted with 

 great order and affection; all seems harmonious among them, 

 as if the interest of each was that of all. Several nests are 

 often within a few inches of each other, yet no appearance of 

 discord or quarreling takes place in this peaceful and affec- 

 tionate community. 



When the young are fit to leave the nest the old ones 

 entice them out by fluttering back-wjard and forward, twitter- 

 ing and calling to them every time they pass, and the young 

 exercise themselves for several days in short essays of this 

 kind within doors before they first venture abroad. As soon 

 as they leave the barn they are conducted by their parents to 

 the trees, or bushes, by the pond, creek or river shore, oi 

 other suitable situation, where their proper food is most 

 abundant, and where they can be fed with the greatest con- 

 venience to both parties. Now and then they take a short 

 excursion themselves, and are also frequently fed while on 

 wing by an almost instantaneous motion of both parties rising 

 perpendicularly in air and meeting each other. 



About the middle of August they seem to begin to prepare 

 for their departure. They assemble on the roof in great 

 numbers, dressing and airranging their plumage and making 

 occasional essays, twittering with great cheerfulness. Their 

 song is a kind of sprightly warble, sometimes continued for a 

 considerable time. From this period to the 8th of September 

 they are seen near the Schuylkill and Delaware every after- 



