No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 139 



by L. B. B. is June 17, 1893, and he has seen none at any season 

 there since 1905. 



In Guilford Martins were abundant much later, but their num- 

 bers have markedly decreased, and now most of the martin-boxes 

 are untenanted except by English Sparrows. Only one small 

 colony there and another in Madison were found by L. B. B. in 

 the summer of 1904. Hoyt reports that there was in 1905 at 

 least one colony still breeding in Stamford. Colonies in Middle- 

 town and Portland were breeding in 1912. These birds should 

 be encouraged by erecting boxes for them, care being taken to 

 protect .them from the English Sparrow, their worst enemy. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons (Say). Cliff Swallow. 



A locally common summer resident from May until August; 

 over most of the state only a tolerably common spring and fall 

 migrant; decreasing, but not as rapidly as the Purple Martin. 



Earliest record. New Haven, May 3, 1882, April 15, 1877 

 (Osborne), 1 April 21, 1906 (E. S. W.) ; Portland, May 19, 1905; 

 Litchfield, April 30, 1905 (E. S. W.). 



Latest record. New Haven, Sept. 18, 1895, Sept. 30, 1907 

 (A. A. S.) ; Portland, Sept. 14, 1877. 



Nest. Breeds in colonies under the eaves of barns and out- 

 buildings. 



E .?g s - 3-5 ; early in June. 



Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 30, 1898, five eggs 

 (Hill). Latest record. June 13, 1882, four eggs (L. B. B.). 



Unusual eggs. In a set of five eggs collected in Meriden, 

 May 31, 1885 (L. B. B.), one egg is pure white with a few 

 purplish brown specks at the larger end, another pale cream-buff, 

 heavily blotched with dull heliotrope-purple and mummy-brown at 

 the base, while the other three are normal. 



Albino. Aug. 22, 1902, Gaylordsville, one seen (Austin). 



Hirundo erythrogastra Boddaert. Barn Swallow. 



An abundant summer resident from May until August. 



Earliest record. New Haven, April 13, 1887, April 7, 1888 

 (Webb) ; Portland, April 6, 1889. 



Latest record. New Haven, Sept. 21, 1903, Oct. 29, 1888 

 (L. B. W.) ; Portland, Oct. 19, 1891. 



1 Merriam, Birds of Conn., p. 30. 



