24'2 NATIRE SKETCHES IX TEMPERATE AMERICA 



BiRDTiJiE Reflections 



ARLY one morning, as the 

 sun was just breaking 

 through the heavy alnio.s- 

 phei'e, I obsei-\e<l a family of 

 swallows on the eastern slope of 

 a barn roof. Some were engaged 

 in preening their feathers ; others 

 were either lifting or spreading 

 their wings to catch the rays of 

 the sun. I had watched the 

 rearing of this brood of birds 

 in the barn, and had seen the 

 debut of the yoimg birds into the 

 outer world. But now I was 

 treated to a most unexpected sur- 

 prise. As I stood viewing the birds 

 ' from the roadside, the male head of 



the family ])oured out his mu.sical subdued warble. This song 

 was repeated at frequent intervals, nearly always ending in 

 a pleasing low chatter. During these expressions of sweet 

 cadences all the other l)irds seemed to enjoy the music. I 

 have always cherished the memory of that morning's obser- 

 vations, for it was my first experience hearing the barn swal- 

 low's song. Before this time I had never considered this 

 bird in the light of a songster. 



The Baltimore orioles are not often seen in J.uly; having 

 reared their brood earlier in the season, they now keep slyly 

 hidden in the shadow of the foliage of the trees. A beautiful 

 example of one of their nests hung pendent from one of the 

 upper branches of a tall pear tree. On August sixth I had 



