RiT>aria riparia 
Bethel, Maine 
1903 
June 5 
As I have said Bank Swallows were scattered about in 
great numbers over the intervale this morning and their low pleas¬ 
ing 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 hi11-side. Every half minute or so one of than 
would swoop 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 or 100 yards before it was overtaken and robbed of its prize, 
and the robber in his turn was usually quickly despoiled. Some¬ 
times 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 desti¬ 
nation, being simply snatched and held for an instant by bird after 
bird while the remainder of the flock were flying around and a- 
round 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 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 do under 
similar conditions 
