340 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tail-feathers, ami in having a very broad, continuous collar of steel-blue 

 across the jugulum, entirely isolating the chestnut of the throat; the abdo- 

 men apjjears to be much more whitish than in the American species. 



IMany .specinjens of H. horreorum show a continuous collar, but then the 

 two lateral crescents are but just barely connected. In No. 2,191 $ , Carlisle, 

 Penn., ilay, there is an indication of as broad a collar as in the Eurojiean 

 sjjecies ; but the area, though sharply bounded, is not unilbrmly lilack, Ijeing 

 much mixed centrally with light rufous. 



Specimens of H. hurrmnmi from both coasts of North America appear to 

 be perfectly identical. 



Habits. No one of all our North American birds is more widely diffused, 

 more generally abundant, wherever found, or better known, than the graceful 

 and familiar Barn Swallow. And no one is more universally or more 

 deservedly a favorite. Found throughout Xorth America from Florida to 

 Greenland and from ocean to ocean, and breeding nearly throughout the 

 same wide extent, its distribution is universal. Venturing with a confiding 

 trust into our crowded cities, and building their elaborate nests in the 

 porches of the dwellings, as well as entering in greater numbers the barns 

 and farm-buildings of the agriculturists and placing themselves under 

 tlu! priitcction of man, they rarely fail to win for themselvc^s the interest and 

 good-will they so well deserve. Innocent and lilameless in their lives, there 

 is no evil blended with the many benefits they confer on inau. They are liis 

 ever-constant benefactor and friend, and are never known, even indirectly, to 

 do him any injury. For their daily food, and for that of tlieir ofl'spring, 

 they destroy tlie insects that annoy his cattle, injure his fruit-trees, sting 

 his fruit, or molest his person. Social, affectionate, and kind in tlieir inter- 

 course with each other; faithful and devoted in the discliarge of their conju- 

 gal and parental duties ; exemplary, watc-litul, and tender alike to their own 

 family and to all tlieir race ; sympathizing and benevolent when their fel- 

 lows are in any trouble, — these lovely and beautiful birds are bright exam- 

 ples to all, in tlieir blameless and useful lives. 



This Swallow passes the winter months in Central and South America as 

 far south as Brazil and Paraguay, and the West Indies, and is found through- 

 out the year in the Plateau of Mexico. It appears in the Southern States 

 in March, and in the Central States early in April. In the latter jiart of this 

 month it reaches New York and New England, becoming abundant near 

 Boston about the first of May. Sir John Pdchardsou found them lireediiig 

 as far north as latitude 67° 30'. They reached Fort Chippewyau, latitude 

 57°, as early as the loth of ^lay, taking possession of their nests. It has 

 been found throughout Canada and in all the British Provinces, has been 

 met with in New Mexico, and is common in certain portions of Texas and 

 the Indian Territory. Dr. Cooper states it to be less abundant on the Pacific 

 than on the Eastern coast, — a fact attributable to the lack of suitable places 

 in which to build. As settlements have multiplied, these birds have gradu- 



