SwaUow WESTERN BIRDS 



Alaska and the far north south along the entire Pacific 

 coast, extending east to South Dakota and western 

 Nebraska ; migrating through western Texas and winter- 

 ing in Mexico and farther south. 



It is about five and one-half inches long and has the 

 head, back, and fore wings a beautiful bronzy-green 

 which show purple lights. The wings, tail, and narrow 

 strip on nape are a rich violet-purple which change in 

 the sunlight; the white under parts extend up on to the 

 cheeks and over the bright black eyes. This white also 

 extends up from the belly and nearly meets on the rump. 

 The tail is deeply indented. A dead member of this 

 family, which was probably a passing migrant, was once 

 found in the foothills between Pasadena and Los Angeles. 

 As I examined it, watching the play of colors — violets, 

 greens, bronze, and purple, set off with the pure white, 

 I thought it one of the handsomest birds I had ever seen. 

 Would that we might induce them to become as tame 

 and abundant as the Cliff Swallows. 



However, most people must be content to see them as 

 passing migrants, since they prefer the oak regions of 

 the mountains to raise their families, using holes and 

 crevices as nesting sites. Willett reports having found 

 them breeding commonly in the oak regions of Santa 

 Barbara County and in the San Jacinto Valley, River- 

 side County, as well as in the foothills of Ventura 

 County, all of southern California. 



Dawson makes us quite envious when he tells us that 

 in Washington they are forsaking the granite and lava 

 cliffs, where they once nested in holes and crevices, and 

 are claiming protection of man, already becoming com- 

 mon in the cities. "South Tacoma, being nearest to their 

 old oak nurseries, is quite given over to them. It is a 

 pretty sight on a sunny day in April to see them flutter- 

 ing about the cottages, inspecting knotholes and recessed 

 gables or, in default of such conveniences, daintily voic- 



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