500 LAND BIRDS 



Baby Buntings are very like their newly hatched 

 sparrow cousins. The thin hair-like down on their heads 

 and shoulders is soon replaced by soft brownish feathers ; 

 the broad flat bills take form and comeliness ; their 

 funny little elbows become hidden in the wing plumage, 

 and every day sees them stretching up to fly. They 

 usually leave the nest when fifteen days old unless the 

 d^but is hastened by meddlesome fingers. Up to this 

 time they have been fed on insects, by regurgitation 

 at first, then fresh food is given them, the frequency of 

 meals depending somewhat on the location and the time 

 of day. Early in the morning, after a night of fasting, 

 all young birds are fed as frequently as it is possible for 

 the parents to bring the food ; and young reared upon 

 insect diet seem to require more frequent meals than 

 those whose bill of fare consists of seeds. In the case 

 of one brood of young Buntings, the meals were brought 

 every eight minutes from four to five a. m., until their 

 little crops swelled out like marbles. Through the semi- 

 transparent skin I could see enough of the contents to 

 be sure of their menu after they were five days old. 



613. BARN SWALLOW. — Hirundo erythrogastra. 

 Family. — The Swallows. 



Length: 5.75-7.75. 



Adults: Tail forked for about half its length,- outside feather tapered to 

 point. Upper parts glossy metallic blue ; forehead dark brown, ; wings 

 and tail changeable purple and green ; outer two tail-feathers, marked 

 with large whitish spots ; under parts rusty brown, darkest on throat. 



Young: Fork of tail shorter; upper parts lighter in color; under parts 

 dull brownish buffy. 



