CLIFF SWALLOW 145 



under the eaves. In late June the old birds are very busy, 

 hawking for insects over the tall grass in the meadows, and 

 flying in and out through the open door, or through a 

 broken pane. In July the young appear, sitting on the 

 shingles on the slope of the roof, or later on the dead 

 branches of neighboring trees, or on the fences. Here they 

 are still fed by the parents. A little later, they too are 

 constantly on the wing and are fed in the air, the old bird 

 and the young one mounting upward together, their breasts 

 almost touching. The young at this season lack the long 

 outer tail-feathers. 



The Barn Swallow's notes are pleasing and often musical. 

 In the barn, or when flying in friendly companies, they 

 utter a gentle twitter. When they become excited, this 

 changes to a more emphatic kit-tic. The male often sings 

 a song of some length, which ends with a very curious rub- 

 . bery note. The song is uttered either high in air or from 

 the barn ridge-pole. 



When a Barn Swallow perches, the long outer tail- 

 feathers show like two long needle-points projecting beyond 

 the wings. These long feathers and the white in the tail 

 distinguish the Barn Swallow from all the other swallows. 



Cliff Swallow ; Eaye Swallow. Petrochelidon 



lunifrons 



6.01 



Ad. — Head dark blue; forehead cream-white ; back dark, with 

 bluish reflections; rump pale hrick-red • throat deep chestnut; belly 

 whitish; tail square or fan-shaped in flight. 



Nest, of mud, under the eaves of barns or outbuildings. Eggs, 

 white, spotted with reddish-brown. 



The Eave Swallow is a summer resident of N^ew England 

 and New York, arriving about the first of May, and leaving 

 early in September. In some regions it is very abundant, but 

 it is often absent from wide areas, as about Boston. Even 



