The distance, therefore, between the summer and winter homes of the Swallow family is very great, and these brave little birds are wonderful travellers.
"They are so swift on the wing that they do not fear to fly in the day-time, and so escape a great many of the accidents that overtake birds who travel by night.

They come to the middle parts of the United States during the month of April, and start on their southward journey during late September and early October.
"After mating they either choose separate nesting places, or keep together in colonies.

In early autumn they gather in great flocks along the borders of rivers, ponds, and lakes, often also on sea beaches, where they fly to and fro, as if strengthening their wings for the long flight they intend to take.

It has been recently discovered by the Wise Men that these birds, who had been supposed to eat nothing but insects, feed at this time upon the same bayberries of which the Yellow-rumped Warbler is so fond; and that is one reason why they stay by the sandy wastes where these bushes grow.

But no doubt Rap could have told us that, if we had asked him about it.