PASSEEES HIEUNDINIDAE PETEOCHELIDON LUNIFEONS. 215 



PETROCHELIDON LUNIFEONS (Sa.y). 



Cliff-Swallow. 



Hit-undo lunifrons, SAY, Loug's Exp., ii, 1823, 47 (Rocky Mountains). WOODII., Sit- 

 greavc's Exp. ZULU & Col. Riv., 1854, G4. BD., Birds N. A., 1858, 309. 

 HEERM.. P. E. R. Rep., x, pr. iv, 1859, 36. XANTUS, Proc. Acud. Nat. Sci. 

 Pbila., 185t), 191 (Fort Tejon, Oal.). HENRY, Proc. Acad. Nat, Sci. Phila., 

 1859, 106 (New Mexico). COOP. & SUCKL., P. R. E. Rep., xii, pt. ii, I860, 

 184. COOPER, Am, Nat,, iii, 1869, 33. Id, Birds Cal., 1870, 104. STEV., 

 U. S. Geol. Snrv. Terr., 1870, 463. ALLEN, Bull. Mns. Comp. Zool., 

 1872, 176 (Eastern Kausas; Utah; Colorado). SNOW, Birds Kan., 1872, 8. 

 BD., Eev. Am. Birds, i, 1865, 288. COTJES, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. PLila., 

 1866, 72. Id,, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 114. HOLD., Proc. Bost, Soc. Nat. 

 Hist., xv, 1872, 197. MERRIAM, U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., 1872, 676. BD., 

 BREW., & EIDG., N. A. Birds, i, 1874, 335, pi. xvi, f. 13. YARROW & 

 HENSHAW, Rep. Oru. Specs., 1872, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 11. HENSIIAW, 

 An. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., xi, 1874, 4. Id., An. List Birds Utah, 1S72 ? 

 Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 42. Id., Eep. Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped. j 

 1874, 60, 75, 104. ALLEN, Proc. Best, Soc. Nat, Hist., Jaue, 1874, 15, 17, 

 23. COUES, Birds Northwest, 1874, 88. 



Observed in Snake Valley, Nevada, and in many localities in Middle 

 and Southern Utah, living in colonies, and building their nests at times in 

 inaccessible spots in lofty cliffs, and again in places but a few feet above the 

 plain. 



A wide-spread species, both in Arizona and New Mexico, as their mud 

 nests, attached to the cliffs everywhere, attest. 



Seen near Fort Garland, Colo., in large numbers, building under the eaves 

 of the post quarters. I noticed here a very curious departure from the usual 

 method of constructing the nest. Under the projecting eaves of one of the 

 store houses, a large colony had established themselves ; there being in the 

 neighborhood of fifty nests, most of whicl i were built in the usual fashion. But 

 a few pairs, taking advantage of circumstances, had established themselves 

 in certain small passages, which opened directly under the eaves, and had 

 served as ventilators. The mouth of each one of these had been built up 

 with mud, a small hole being left as an entrance. Some twelve inches 

 beyond was the nest proper, consisting of a small pile of straws and feathers, 

 on which the eggs were deposited. The wisdom of the birds in thus availing 

 themselves of these holes was very clearly demonstrated, since nearly the 

 entire labor of nest making was obviated and a much safer domicile secured. 



