. Birds of village and field: a bird book for beginners . t square, with a liyht spoton rump. Length, about 6 inches. Geographic Distribution. — North America, north to thelimit of trees; breeds throughout its range in the UnitedStates and Canada, except the south Atlantic and Gulfstates; winters from Central to South America. If the number and variety of Swallows seemconfusing, go to an old barn around which thebirds are flying, and ex-amine their adobe domi-ciles. Under the eavesyou will find a row ofqueer gourd-shaped mudnests, hanging mouthdown; and as you watchyou may see one of thehouse-
. Birds of village and field: a bird book for beginners . t square, with a liyht spoton rump. Length, about 6 inches. Geographic Distribution. — North America, north to thelimit of trees; breeds throughout its range in the UnitedStates and Canada, except the south Atlantic and Gulfstates; winters from Central to South America. If the number and variety of Swallows seemconfusing, go to an old barn around which thebirds are flying, and ex-amine their adobe domi-ciles. Under the eavesyou will find a row ofqueer gourd-shaped mudnests, hanging mouthdown; and as you watchyou may see one of thehouse-owners disappear ina nest, disclosing as hedoes so the light rumpwhich distinguishes the Eave from all other Swal-lows. The nest is interesting in itself, for it is madeof pellets of mud, rolled till they are almostround; but the most surprising thing about it isthe way its retort form is changed by the intelli-s:ent builders accordino- to the slant of the rafteragainst which it is supported, the weight of thebidge being adjusted with marvelous Fig. Swallow. EAVE SWALLOW 53 If, while you are watching Eave Swallows, afork-tailed Barn (see Plate IV. p. 50) disappearsthrough the barn-door and you follow it to its nest,you will be surprised at the difference in the twostructures. At first sight, the nest of the Barnseems a simple cup lined wdth hay and close inspection it proves less simple thanit looks; for, Doctor Brewer says, it is made upof ten or twelve distinct layers of rolled pelletsseparated by layers of fine grass, possibly gluedtogether with saliva. Sometimes the ingeniousbirds build out an extra platform beside the nestthat they may rest on the doorstep at night, andwhen the young fill the house in the says that when building they oftenstop at intervals to let the mud dry and harden. As Mr. Nehrling suggests. Swallows preferbarns with openings in the gables, so that theycan fly freely in and out; and he gives us a valu-able
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1898
