Outlines for Scout Workers · Improvement Era

Outlines for Scout Workers By Delbert W. Parratt, B. S., and Grace Tempest XIX — The Barn Swallow "Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for her- self, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, 0 Lord of hosts, my King, and my God." — Psalm 84:3.

Why is the barn swallow so named?
Name at least five other kinds of swallows.
How may the barn swallow be distinguished from these? 4.- Tell of its flight.
Describe its song.
Where, when, and of what is the nest made?
Tell of the size, color, and number of eggs.
Upon what does the barn swallow subsist?
Should this bird be protected? Give at least two reasons for your answer.

How  may  it  be  encouraged  to  stay  with  us?

Handy Material "This guest of Summer, The temple-hunting martlet, does approve, By his lov'd masonry, that heaven's breath Smells wooingly here. * * * Where they most breed and haunt, I have observ'd, The air is delicate." — Shakespeare, Macbeth. Many kinds of swallows are found in North America. Among them might be mentioned the Violet Green, the Rough Winged, the Sand, the Cliff, the Chimney, the Tree, the Bank, and the Barn. The first is named from the appearance of its wings, the second from its prevailing color, and all the others from the places selected for nest building. The one now claim-

OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 793 ing our special attention is an expert mason and is particularly fond of building high up under projecting eaves of friendly barns, and in consequence is commonly called the barn swal- low. In weight he is among our lightest birds, but, in spite of this, measures ordinarily about seven inches in length. Not many birds surpass him in grace of figure or taste in dress. Nothing gaudy is found in his attire. A glossy, yet quiet, steel blue mantles his upper parts, blending into a pleasing tinge of dark purplish green on wings and tail. Large whitish spots are found on the tail feathers and afford a simple means of de- termining the bird's identity. But the deep chestnut on fore- head and throat, fading into lighter tints on the breast, give a sure marking by which the Barn may be distinguished from all other swallows. The long, graceful tail with its deep notch presents still another evidence by which the barn swallow may be known. Many swallows have notched tails, but in none other is the notch so pronounced as in the barn species. With it the notch extends nigh on half the length of the tail, and the long side feathers taper slenderly to points. Like all other birds of this interesting family, the barn swallow spends most of his time flying about in quest of food. As a result his wings are well developed, but legs and feet are correspondingly small and weak. His flight is easy, skimming, and graceful. He turns and twists in air with remarkable speed and precision, and glides over meadow, stream, and lake, as if '"sliding down hill" all the time. He habitually flies nearer the ground than do most of the other swallows. His song is a happy twitter most commonly heard while the bird is on wing. When peacefully resting on some telegraph wire or the like he gives a soft, catchy "witt, witt, witt, witt," but if alarmed cries a harsh "t-r-r-r, t-r-r-r," and darts off to places of safety. Early May usually welcomes the return of the swallows from their winter retreats in Central and South America. At this time they are busily engaged in mating and nest making. As already suggested, they prefer building under eaves of some- what isolated country barns. The nest is a mud shell, some- what bowl shaped, lined with soft material such as delicate vege- table fibers and feathers. "The swallow is a mason, And underneath the eaves He builds a nest and plasters it "With mud and hay and leaves." In the little "mud hut" are laid from three to five pretty white eggs, neatly speckled with dainty brown or tinted laven-

794 IMPROVEMENT ERA der. As a rule the happy pair raise two broods of little ones each season, although three are by no means uncommon. In addition to cheering our surroundings, these sociable little creatures keep actively engaged against mosquitoes, flies, and other troublesome insects. With sharp eyes, wide-stretched mouths, and ready wings they capture desired prey in a manner that is like magic. "From daylight till dark, on tireless wings, they seek their food, and the insects destroyed are countless." A report from the Department of Agriculture at Washington says : "Insects taken on the wing constitute the almost exclusive diet of the barn swallow. More than one-third consists of flies. * * * Beetles stand next in order and consist of a few weevils and many of the small drum beetles of the May beetle family that swarm over the pastures in the late afternoon. Ants amount to more than one-fifth of the whole food." Because of their poetic beauty, charming flights, and in- cessant insect work, these gentle summer residents should be en- couraged to live in peace and safety with us. Many of our modern barns are so closely built and finely finished that they offer almost no inducement for the swallows to build. As a re- sult the number is becoming so reduced as to cause concern among bird students and those interested in the control of in- sect life. Of late we have noted some alert agriculturalists have pro- vided inviting boxes for these useful helpers. Such nesting boxes, having a floor space of two by six inches, and height of six inches, are secured well up under the eaves of the barn at a distance of not less than ten or twelve feet from the ground. The wood used in their making should be old, rough, and weatherworn and one or else two sides of the box should be left entirely open. Short narrow shelves, some six or eight inches below the wide eaves on tight-walled barns, will afford ample support for the nests. One or two holes cut through the gable walls admitting the swallows to build among the rafters are likely to bring pleasing results. Like many of our country barns, those of Chocorua were at one time tenanted by joyful swallows. Changes were made and the little birds were obliged to depart. Of their pathetic leave, Bolles touchingly writes : As the old barn9 fell to ruin, New ones, raised to take their places, Lacked the broad and generous shelter Which the eaves had once afforded To the owners of the mud huts To the swallows of the Saco. Weary-winged, from distant Southlands, In the spring have come the swallows, Seeking hopefully their nestings,

OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 795 Seeking eaves and sun-warmed barn sides; Come and found the crackless clapboards. Come and found ill-odored pigments, Come and found new barns for old ones, Come and found no eaves for shelter, Come with joy and met with sorrow, Seeking vainly for old barn sides Changeless as the cliffs of Pangus. Weary-winged, the homeless swallows Flutter out into the darkness — Whither going? That they know not. But 't is certain that the Saco, That the lonely cliffs of Pangus, That the steeps below Chocorua, Do not bear their cosy dwellings, Years ago, on man depending, Mother swallows taught their nestlings Barns alone were made to build on — Barns have failed them, men betrayed them.