148 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



13. HmUNDO ERYTHROGASTEA Bodcl. 



(3533) i & 9, alcoholic. Cave Rock, Unalashka, July 23, 1880. 

 (3510) nest of above, with 4 young, July 28, 1880. 



A pair of the above species of swallow was observed for some time 

 circling around Cave Eock, on Amaknak Island, near Iliuliiik. In the 

 mouth of the cave was the nest here to be described. The swallows 

 were not seen on the nest, but there is no reasonable doubt that the pair 

 obtained were the owners. 



The nest in its present condition is 5i inches long; the greatest depth 

 of the front wall is 3 inches ; the grass lining, on which is placed an 

 additional cushion of feathers, is 3i inches long and nearly 3 inches 

 wide on top; the bacli: wall of the nest contains only grasses and sea- 

 weeds ; the mud wall separates readily into only four layers. The mud 

 in its dry state crumbles very readily, and could not have had great 

 cohesive power originally. To remedy this defect, the pellets were in- 

 termingled with a long, narrow, red sea-weed which has considerable 

 strength and furnishes a sticky secretion well adapted for holding them 

 together, and the same sea-weed was employed between the layers. 

 The mud was evidently found on the shore close to high-water mark, 

 as it contains numerous small shells which may be always seen in such 

 location. The grass seems to be mainly the common wild rye of the 

 vicinity. The inner lining is ample and prettily arranged. It consists 

 of soft feathers of young bald eagle, raven, and gull, tastefully inter- 

 twined, and forming a shallow, but luxurious, cushion. 



The structure and situation of this nest are similar to what Mr. Eidg- 

 "way observed at Pyramid Lake and the Euby Mountains;* but the 

 limited number of mud layers of the Unalashka nest and the introduc- 

 tion of a glutinous sea weed to supply the defective cohesive i)ower of 

 the pellets forming the wall, afford a new illustration of the faculty 

 which this swallow possesses of adapting itself to the conditions of its 

 environment. 



14. Leucosticte griseinucha (Brandt) Baird. 



81349 (3487) 9 . Little Kouiushi Id., Shumagins, July IG, 1330. 

 81348 (3889) 9 . lUuliuk, Unalashka, Oct. 7, 1880. 

 (3890) 9. " " " " " 



Found on the low ground on Little Koniushi, near Northwest Harbor. 

 Kot common. 



Abundant at Iliuliuk late in July and also in October ; frequents the 

 hillocks and cliffs, and comes into the village vards. 



* Om. 40th Parallel Surv., p. 441. 



