. The birds of New England and adjacent states [microform] : containing descriptions of the birds of New England, and adjoining states and provinces, arranged by a long-approved classification and nomenclature; together with a history of their habits .... Ornithology; Birds; Ornithologie; Oiseaux. .0^^ THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW. m doubt that great ntimbers of them in thinly settled districts still breed in hollow trees. The nest is composed of twigs, which are glued together and to the side of the chimney with the saliva of the bird. It is very rarely lined with a few feathers. The strength of these
. The birds of New England and adjacent states [microform] : containing descriptions of the birds of New England, and adjoining states and provinces, arranged by a long-approved classification and nomenclature; together with a history of their habits .... Ornithology; Birds; Ornithologie; Oiseaux. .0^^ THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW. m doubt that great ntimbers of them in thinly settled districts still breed in hollow trees. The nest is composed of twigs, which are glued together and to the side of the chimney with the saliva of the bird. It is very rarely lined with a few feathers. The strength of these structures is wonderful: and they are so durable that I have known of instances of their remaining in the chimney during three seasons. Usually, the bird displays great sagacity in the choice of a location for a nest, in securing protection from storms and from the attacks of animals; but occasionally the nest is built in a chimney, open at the top sufficiently wide to permit the rain to trickle down the sides: the result is, that the moisture softens the glue by which the nest is attached to the chimney, and it is, with its living contents, precipi- tated to the bottom. Again, if the nest is built too low in the chimney, the young or eggs furnish agreeable food for rats, which, unfortunately, are sometimes found in dwelling- houses in the country in uncomfortable numbers. The eggs are generally four or five in number, pure-white in color, rather long in shape. Dimensions of five eggs, in a nest collected in Upton, Me.: .84 by .44 inch, .81 by .46 iuch, .80 by .46 inch, .78 by .48 inch, .76 by .61 inch. This species is somewhat nocturnal in its habits. From earliest dawn until seven or eight in the morning, it is busy in the pursuit of insects: it then retires to its roosting-places in the chimneys, and is seldom seen until late in the after- noon. Prom early twilight until late in the night, it is again actively employed; and, having heard its notes, as it sped through the ai
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1870
