WHERE SWALLOWS ROOST 101 
detachment left it every fifteen minutes; thus, birds 
left at 6, 6.15, 6.30, and 6.45, when the reeds were 
deserted. The departing birds did not arise alone, 
but the entire flock arose at once, then divided into 
two flocks, one of which flew northward while the 
other returned to the reeds. Many of the departing 
birds alighted on the reeds farther up the creek; 
their numbers constantly received additions from 
the ranks of passing birds, and thus new flocks were 
formed. 
“ At eight o’clock the last Swallows had left the 
reeds in my vicinity, but birds were constantly pass- 
ing toward the north, and this straggling flight con- 
tinued until nine o’clock, when again the marshes 
appeared deserted.” 
Subsequent observations have been made largely 
from a road crossing the marsh, the telegraph and 
electric-light wires which border it being the resting 
place of vast numbers of Swallows, both at night 
and in the morning. Particularly do they throng 
the wires near the creek, which flows north and 
south through the marsh, and which, it is inter- 
esting to observe, forms a natural highway for the 
Swallows as they go to and from their roosts. 
On the sides of this road are several small maple 
trees, to which the Swallows often resort in such 
numbers that their foliage trembles as though in a 
strong breeze, it not being the birds’ object to perch 
in the trees, but to flutter among the dew-laden 
leaves, and apparently bathe in the moisture they 
contain, while between the baths they rest on the 
smaller terminal twigs, when they are very difficult 
