HIRUNDO AMERICANA. 
46 
forwards, twittering and calling to them every time tl”’' 
pass ; and the young exercise themselves, for sevei^ 
days, in short essays of this kind, within doors, betV 
they first venture abroad. As soon as they leave w 
barn, they are conducted by their parents to the trc 
or bushes, by the pond, creek, or river shore, or otb 
suitable situation, where their proper food is ui^ 
abundant, and where thejf can be fed with the great^ 
convenience to both parties. Now and then they 
a short excursion themselves, and arc also frequeii* 
fed while on wing by an almost instantaneous moty 
of both parties, rising perpendicularly in air, and mect‘* 
each other. About the middle of August they seenJf 
begin to prepare fur their departure. They asseni)* 
on the roof in great numbers, dressing and arranff! 
their plumage, and making occasional essays, twitter** 
with great cheerfulness. Their song is a kind , 
sprightly warble, sometimes continued for a considerajj 
time. From this period to the 8th of September, tW 
are seen near the Schuylkill and Delaware, 
afternoon, for two or three hours before sunset, pass^ 
along to the south iu great numbers, feeding as tJ*^ 
skim along. 1 have counted several hundreds 
within sight in less than a quarter of au hour, j 
directing their course towards the south. The re*^ 
aireuillljl* tucu SUKI.U. iiic 
are now their regular roosting idaces ; and, about ^ 
middle of September, there is scarcely an individiia'j 
them to bo seen. Hoiv far south they continue W 
route is uncertain ; none of them remain iu the Un*c 
States. Mr Bartram informs me, that, during' J 
residence in Florida, he often saw vast flocks of k 
and our other swallows, passing from the peni***r 
towards the south iu September and October ; and K 
on their return to the north about the middle of Ma*j 
It is highly probable, that, were the countries to \ 
south of the Gulf of Mexico, and as far south as ’ 
great river Maranon, visited and explored by a 
petent naturalist, these regions would be found to 
the winter rendezvous of the very birds now hefor** 
and most of our other migratory tribes. 
