52 
BIRD LIFE IN WASHINGTON 
Even at a distance, we may recognize 
him by his shining white breast and his 
steel blue coat. When he sits upon a tel¬ 
ephone wire, showing little but his white 
breast, it is some times difficult to tell 
whether you are looking at Tree Swallow 
or Violet Green Swallow. Look carefully! 
If the white partially encircles the eye, 
it is Violet Green Swallow. 
Old Woodpecker holes offer them fine 
home sites. They are apt, too, to steal the 
box that was intended for Bluebird. 
TREE SWALLOW 
If you prefer the swallows, you may put 
up a dozen boxes in the yard and have as 
many homes there, for the swallows love 
to live in colonies. 
I have watched a whole flock circle 
around a hole in a cottonwood; apparent¬ 
ly, they were all contending for the same 
home. A good climber may find a num¬ 
ber of nests in the same snag, if there are 
holes enough. 
