Intelligent Swallows

Dr. F. H. Itnowlton of the Smithsonian institution has published an account of observations made on the habits of the comraon cave or cliff swallow, which show that this blrd possesses a remarkable degree of intelligence. Eave swallows, as is well known, usually select the eaves of a building for their nesting site, and sometimes as many as a hundred nests may be observed under one projection. Dr. Knowlton's observations are as follows: Within my collecting grounds is a shed open only on one side, vhere for many years cliff swallows have attached their nests to the sleapers of the loft. In the spring of 1878 they returned, as usual, and soon began repairing old nests or building new ones. One day it was noticed that one bird remained in her half-finished nest, and did not appear to be mueh engaged. Soon a neighbor, owning a nest a few feet away, arrived with a fresh pellet of clay, and after adjusting it in a satisfactory manner flew away for more. No sooner was she out of sight than the quiet bird repaired to the neighbor's nest, appropriated the fresh clay and molded it to her own nest! When the plundered bird returned no notice was taken of the theft, which was repeate.d as soon as she was again out of sight. These movements were repeated many times, with the result that the nest of the stay-at-home bird grew apace! In the same place a nest remained undisturbed, and was occupied by probably the same pair of birds for several seasons. One spring they returned and all appeared prosperous, until one day it was noticed that a nnmber of swallows were engaged in walling up the entrance to this old nest. This work, as well as the outline of a new nest over the old, was soon completed. The closed nest was then broken open and within was found the dead body of a swallow. The bird had probably died a natural death, and the 'rlends, being unable to remove the body and knowing that it would soon become offensive, adopted this method of sealing it up.