IIIUUNDINID/E. COTYLE RITAUIA. 105 



COTYLE RIPARIA. 



Hirundo riparia, LINN. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 344. 

 " " GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 1019. 



" WILSON, Am. Orn. V, 1812, pi. xxxviii, fig. 4. 



" TEMMINCK, Manuel d'Ornithologie, I, 1820, 429 ; III, 300. 



BONAP. Syn. 1828, p. 65. 



" " RENNIE, Montagu's Ornithological Diet. 1831, p. 17. 



" RICH. & SWAINS. F. B. A. II, 1831, 333. 

 " NUTTALL, Manual, I, 1832, 607. 

 " AUD. Orn. Biog. IV, 1835, 584, pi. ccclxxxv. 

 " " " Syn. 1839, p. 36. 



" Birds of Am. I, 1840, 187, pi. 1. 

 " DE KAY, Nat. Hist. N. Y., Birds, pi. xxviii, fig. 62. 

 " " LEMBEYE, Aves de la Isla de Cuba, 1850, p. 47. 



Hirundo cinerea, VIEILL. Nouv. Diet. XIV, 1817, 526. 

 Cotyle riparia, BONAP. Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, p. 9. 



" CASSIN, Syn. N. A. Birds (Illust. Birds of Cal.), 1854, p. 247. 



VULG. Bank Swallow. Sand Martin. Hirondelle de Rivage. Sand Swallow. Shee-shee- 

 winae-paeshoo (Cree Indians). Golondrina Ribariega (Cuba). 



THE common Bank Swallow of this country is still supposed to be the same with 

 the European species. This identity has been carefully examined by Mr. Cassin, 

 who unhesitatingly expresses the opinion that they are absolutely identical. It 

 seems never to have been seriously doubted. It appears, therefore, no longer proba- 

 ble that closer investigations can demonstrate sufficient specific differences to justify 

 a separation. Be this as it may, hoAvever, no perceptible variations are observable 

 in the habits, mode of breeding, nesting, or eggs of the birds of either continent. 



The American representatives of this species are found throughout the United 

 States, from the Atlantic to the shores of the Pacific, as well as from the extreme 

 southern States to the farthest northern limits. As, however, it has most probably 

 been confounded in some places with the Rough-winged species, as it is still liable to 

 be, without a close inspection, it may well be doubted whether full reliance can be 

 placed upon all the accounts we have of its extended distribution. Certain it is, 

 that, in the parts of the country where the Rough-wing is known to abound, this 

 bird, if met with at all, is not common. Edward Harris, Esq. found the serripennis 

 in the region of the Upper Missouri and the Yellowstone, but not this species. It 

 seems not improbable, therefore, that a more careful investigation into the distribution 

 of these two birds may show a more exclusively northern habitat for the Bank 

 Swallow, while the Rough-wing may be found to be chiefly a denizen of the States 

 south and west of Pennsylvania. The northern migrations of the Bank Swallow 

 appear to be limited only by the extent of land for it to occupy. It is among the 

 most northern of the land birds. Richardson found them breeding by thousands at 

 the mouth of Mackenzie's River, in the sixty-eighth parallel of latitude. They are 

 of course a very hardy bird, migrating to the north quite early in spring, when they 



14 



