CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 
145 
tree. From a man who for several years lived within twenty 
rods of it, I procured this information. He always thought 
the Swallows tarried in the tree through the winter, and 
avoided cutting it down on that account. About the first of 
May the Swallows came out of it in large numbers, about the 
middle of the day, and soon returned. As the weather grew 
warmer, they came out in the morning, with a loud noise, or 
roar, and were soon dispersed. About half an hour before 
sun-down, they returned in millions, circulating two or three 
times round the tree, and then descending like a stream into a 
hole about sixty feet from the ground. It was customary for 
persons in the vicinity to visit this tree, to observe the motions 
of these birds: and when any person disturbed their opera- 
tions, by striking violently against the tree with their axes, 
the Swallows would rush out in millions, and with a great 
noise. In November, 1791, the top of this tree was blown 
down twenty feet below where the Swallows entered : there 
has been no appearance of the Swallows since. Upon cutting 
down the remainder, an immense quantity of excrements, 
quills, and feathers were found, but no appearance or relics of 
any nests. 
“ Another of these Swallow trees was at Bridport. The 
man who lived the nearest to it gave this account : The 
Swallows were first observed to come out of the tree in the 
spring, about the time that the leaves first began to appear on 
the trees; from that season they came out in the morning 
about half an hour after sunrise. They rushed out like a 
stream, as big as the hole in the tree would admit, and 
ascended in a perpendicular line, until they were above the 
height of the adjacent trees; then assumed a circular motion, 
performing their evolutions two or three times, but always in 
a larger circle, and then dispersed in every direction. A little 
before sun-down, they returned in immense numbers, forming 
several circular motions, and then descended like a stream 
into the hole, from whence they came out in the morning. 
About the middle of September, they were seen entering the 
VOL. II. k 
