Field Notes 
185 
of half a dozen, and the fourth, and perhaps the longest established, 
about twenty-five pairs. 
The first, colony of which I have record was observed here twenty 
years ago by my friend, Dr. Harry Vaughn. It was located in a small 
barn on the campus of Vanderbilt University, then in the suburbs, and 
consised of five or six pairs. This colony has long ago ceased to exist. 
In June, 1917, I noted several Barn Swallows going in and out of an old 
windowless dwelling which was standing in three feet of water caused 
by the construction of a large artificial lake. I waded to and into the 
building and found two nests containing young birds. On May 17, 1918, 
five pairs were found to be nesting here, two nests containing five nearly 
fresh eggs and the others held incomplete sets. This colony was seven 
miles south of Nashville. The following year four pairs made their nests 
in the building and as usual remained about the lake throughout the 
summer. During the ensuing winter the old house was removed and the 
colony was left without a home. However, two pairs were found to have 
taken up quarters, the next spring, in a large barn two miles further 
south, and it is not unlikely that they were some of the birds which had 
been evicted from the dwelling in the lake. This small colony was again 
in evidence this year. 
In 1920 and 1921 two or three nests with eggs were taken from as 
many localities by boys and in each case the colonies were said to con- 
sist of two or three pairs. The localities were within a radius of ten 
miles of the city. 
In July, 1922, I discovered by far the largest colony and one which 
has apparently been in existence for many years. It was located near 
Belleview, twelve miles southwest of Nashville, on an extensive stock 
farm comprising hundreds of acres of pasture lands, a number of barns 
of all sizes and ages and, most essential to the joy of the swallows, a 
large stock pond. This colony has been carefully protected by the oper- 
ator of the farm. In one large old barn, at the pond, were five nests, 
constructed against the sides of the joists supporting the hay loft and 
twelve feet from the ground. Another and smaller barn, however, seemed 
to be the center of activity, and upon investigation it was found to con- 
tain about twenty nests. 
The ground floor of the barn was used as a shelter and feeding place 
for cattle, the end being open, and overhead was a hay loft. All of the 
nests were built on the “ bridging,” used to stiffen the joists supporting 
the hay floor, and were within from seven to eight and a half feet of the 
dirt floor. When I entered the barn it was full of cattle which had 
sought refuge from the midday sun, and the swallows flew in and out, 
within a few inches of their backs, apparently unconcerned at their pres- 
ence. Fi'om most of the nests the young had already been fledged, though 
four still held young, and two held eggs. The latter were five and three 
respectively and incubation appeared to be advanced. Outside some fifty 
or sixty swallows skimmed the pasture, but were thickest near the shed 
where flies were thick. They appeared entirely fearless of my presence, 
constantly flying within a few feet of me. 
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 1, 1922. 
Alrert F. Gainer. 
