Bethel, Maine.
1903.
June 5
(No 5)
  As I have just said Bank Swallows were scattered about
in great numbers over the intervales this morning and their
low pleasing chattering cries were constantly in my ears. They
must have a large breeding colony somewhere near, probably
in the sandy banks of the Androscoggin. Fully 25 or 30 
birds were circling about a hen yard on a steep hill-side.
Every half minute or so one of them would sweep down to
the ground and picking up a white feather start at full speed
for the river pursued by the entire throng. In no instance
did I see the fugitive succeed in making more than
50 to 100 yards before it was overtaken and robbed of its prize,
& the robber in his turn was usually quickly despoiled.
Sometimes the feather would be in the possession of a dozen
or more different birds in the course of less than a minute.
When this happened it made little or no progress towards its
ultimate destination being simply snatched and held for an instant 
by bird after bird while the remainder of the flock were flying
around & around the contestants in a narrow circle.
At length, however, some Swallow swifter or stronger than
the others would get it and carry it straight off to
the river bank closely followed by one or two birds while
all the others returned to the poultry yard. It was
one of the prettiest sights of the kind that I have 
ever witnessed. I am by no means sure that the
birds were not simply playing with the feather as the
Tree Swallows certainly sometimes under similar conditions
Bank Swallows