Lake George 



the roof and rafters in the same manner as is 

 the cliff swallow's nest. Occasionally, however, 

 they avoid all anxiety as to whether' adhesion or 

 gravitation will prevail, by placing a circular 

 nest directly on a beam ; but I think this is 

 rather exceptional. The nests of these two 

 species differ more conspicuously in the interior 

 than in the walls ; for that of the cliff swal- 

 low has but the scantiest lining of dried grass, 

 with a few insignificant feathers. But barn 

 swallows are either extremely doting parents, 

 or else their young are very delicate; for I 

 have never seen so luxurious nests as those I 

 collected this summer, with double linings; 

 the outer, of soft grass neatly woven, and the 

 inner, a mass of downiest feathers filling the 

 cavity almost to the very brim, and kept in 

 place by being deftly bound to the outer walls 

 with horse-hairs. 



A peculiar aspect of a bird's nature is its 

 sensitiveness to the smallest change of climate. 

 No human being, I am sure, is competent to 

 detect the difference of latitude between this 

 region and a spot fifty or a hundred miles 

 farther south. But these creatures are endowed 

 with sharper senses than ourselves. As a result, 

 a two or three hours' car-ride from Albany 



2IS 



