CLIFF SWALLOW. 347 
strive to hide their nests and screen themselves during incubation, it becomes a matter 
of curious speculation why these Swallows should ever build beneath our eaves in the 
most conspicuous manner, and literally fly in the face of danger.’’ Their confidence in 
man is, as we have already seen, too often betrayed. With what pertinacity these 
birds cling to their chosen homes, though subjected to every annoyance, and repeatedly 
ejected from the premises by the destruction of their nests, the following examples cited 
from Dr. Elliott Coues’ “Birds of the Colorado Valley,” will show: 
“I have two notable cases in mind. At Fort Pembina, Dakota, a colony insisted 
on building beneath the low portico of the soldiers’ barracks, almost within arm's 
reach. Being noisy and untidy, they were voted a nuisance, to be abated, but it was 
‘no use;—’ they stuck, and so did their nests. In the adjoining British province of 
Manitoba, at one of the trading-posts I visited, it was the same thing over again; 
their nests were repeatedly demolished, on account of the racket and clutter they made, 
till the irate lord of the manor found it cheaper in the end to let the birds alone, and 
take his chances of the morning nap. I think such obstinacy is due to the bird’s 
reluctance to give up the much needed shelter which the eaves provide against the 
weather — indeed, this may have had something to do with the change of habit in the 
beginning. The Cliff Swallow’s nest is built entirely of mud, which, when sun-baked 
into ‘adobe,’ is secure enough in dry weather, but liable to be loosened or washed away 
during a storm. In fadt, this accident is of continual occurrence, just as it is in the 
cases of the Chimney Swifts. The bird's instinct— whatever that may mean; I despise 
the word as a label of our ignorance and conceit—say rather, their reason, teaches 
them to cbme in out of the rain. This may also have something to do with the 
clustering of nests, commonly observed when the birds build on the faces of cliffs, for 
obviously such a mass would withstand the weather better than a single edifice. 
“It is pleasant to watch the establishment and progress of a colony of these birds. 
Suddenly they appear—quite animated and enthusiastic, but undecided as yet; an 
impromptu debating society on the fly, with a good deal of sawing the air to accom- 
plish, before final resolutions are passed. The plot thickens; some Swallows are seen 
clinging to the slightest inequalities beneath the eaves, others are couriers to and from 
the nearest mud-puddle; others again alight like feathers by the water's side, and all 
are in a twitter of excitement. Watching closely these curious sons and daughters of 
Israel at their ingenious trade of making bricks, we may chance to see a circle of them 
gathered around the margin of the pool, insecurely balanced on their tiny feet, tilting 
their tails and ducking their heads to pick up little ‘gobs’ of mud. These are rolled 
round in their mouths till tempered, and made like a quid into globular form, with a 
curious working of their jaws; then off go the birds, and stick the pellet against the 
wall, as carefully as ever a sailor, about to spin a yarn, deposited his chew on the . 
mantel-piece. The birds work indefatigably; they are busy as bees, and a steady stream 
flows back and forth for several hours a day, with intervals for rest and refreshment, 
when the Swallows swarm about promiscuously a-flycatching. In an incredibly short 
time, the basement of the nest is laid, and the whole form becomes clearly outlined; 
the mud dries quickly, and there is a standing place. This is soon occupied by one of 
the pair, probably the female, who now stays at home to welcome her mate with 
