Bellied Swallow
Ad. - Upper parts steel-blue or steel-green; under parts pure white; outer tail-feathers somewhat longer than the middle ones. -Upper parts brownish gray; under parts pure white. L., 5.90; W., 470; T., 2.35; B. from N., 22.
Range.-North America, north to Labrador and Alaska; breeds locally throughout its range; winters from South Carolina southward. Washington, common T. V., Apl. 1 to May 25; July 10 to Sept. Sing Sing, common T. V., Apl. 4 to May 26; Aug. 4 to Oct. 16. Cambridge, S. R., formerly common, now common only as a migrant, Apl. 5 to Oct. 12. Nest, of coarse grasses and feathers, in a hollow tree or bird-box. Eggs, four to seven, white, 74 x 55.
While our eastern Barn and Eave Swallows have abandoned their primitive methods of nesting in caves or beneath cliffs, and the Bank Swallows still adhere to the customs of their ancestors, Tree Swallows are passing through a transition period in their history. Some accept the houses or boxes erected by man as substitutes for the holes in trees or stumps which others still use.
Near New York city they are the first birds to flock after the nesting season, and they begin to gather in our marshes as early as July 1. Their numbers rapidly increase, and the maximum of abundance is reached about August 15, when they outnumber all other Swallows together by at least three to one. They return to their roosts in the SWALLOWS. reeds with great regularity every night, and early in the morning fly out over the country to feed. Their flight in the evening is comparatively low, at an average height of thirty to forty feet. They sail about in circles more than other Swallows, and many pause to rest on telegraph wires, where their pure white breasts easily distinguish them from the Swallows which may be associated with them. In the morning their flight is much higher and more direct. They migrate by day, leaving their roosting ground in flocks, which sometimes contain myriads, and, after attaining a great height, pursue their journey to the south. When migrating along the coast they sometimes collect in large numbers in bayberry bushes (Myrica cerifera) and feed on their fruit.
The BAHAMA SWALLOW (615.1. Callichelidon cyaneoviridis) has been once recorded from the Dry Tortugas, Florida, and may occur more or less regularly in the keys off southeastern Florida (Scott, Auk, vii, 1890, p. 265). 616. Clivicola riparia (Linn.). BANK SWALLOW. Ad.-Upper parts brownish gray; throat white; a brownish gray band on the breast; outer vane of first primary without recurved hooklets; a small tuft of feathers above the hind toe. L., 5-20; W., 3.95; T., 2.00; B. from N., 18. Range.-North America, north to Labrador and Alaska; breeds locally throughout its range; winters as far south as Brazil. Washington, common S. R., more common T. V., Apl. 15 to Sept. 25. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 18 to Oct. 1. Cambridge, common S. R., Apl. 28 to Sept. 1.
Nest, of grasses and feathers, in a hole in a sand bank, two to three feet from the entrance. Eggs, four to six, white, 68 x 48. This is a locally distributed species breeding in colonies only where sand banks offer it a favorable nesting site. Probably for the reason that such banks are more frequently found bordering streams than inland, the birds are more numerous in the vicinity of water. Bank Swallows may be readily known from other Swallows, excepting the Rough-winged, by their nesting habits, small size, and absence of metallic coloring.
From the Rough-wing they differ in having the under parts white, with a conspicuous band across the breast, and in their somewhat ¡ quicker movements. 617. Stelgidopteryx serripennis (Aud.). ROUGH-WINGED SWAL- LOW. Ad.- Upper parts brownish gray; throat and breast pale brownish gray; belly white; outer web of first primary with a series of recurved hooklets; no tuft of feathers above the hind toe. Im.-Similar, but without recurved hooklets on the first primary; throat and breast more or less washed and wing-coverts edged with rufous. L., 5.75; W., 4·35; T., 2·10: B. from N., 19.
WAXWINGS.
Range.-North America; breeds as far north as British Columbia, Minnesota, and Connecticut; winters in the tropics. Washington, common S. R., Apl. 5 to Sept. Sing Sing, common S. R., Apl. 17 to Aug. 12.
Nest, of coarse grasses and feathers, under bridges, in stone walls, or a hole in a bank. Eggs, four to eight, white, 72 x 51.
Rough-winged Swallows resemble Bank Swallows both in habits and appearance. They do not, however, always nest in holes in banks, but are sometimes found nesting about bridges, railway trestles and their abutments.
FIG. 90.- Section of outer primary of adult Rough-winged