340 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



is limited to those portions where proper accoinniDflatioii is t'ouud for 

 its nesting. 



It still retains its ancient habit of occupying lioles in trees or 

 l)anks, and where these are absent the birds are unknown. 



In the fall, it is the first of the swallows to lea^e for winter- 

 (juarters. 



. Genus CLIVICOLA Forster. 

 CLIVICOLA RIPARIA (Linn.). 



-'49. Bank Swallow. (016) 



Lustreless gray, with a pectoral band of the same ; otliei- under parts, 

 white. Sexes exactly alike. Young: — Similar, the feathers often .skirted with 

 lusty or whitish. Length, 4^-4f ; wing, 33-4 ; tail. 2. 



Hab. — Xorthei-n lieniisphere, in America, south to tlie West Indies, ('entral 

 America and Northern South America. 



Nest, a few bits of straw and some feathers placed at the end of a tunnel, 

 two to four feet deep, dug by the Ijiids in a sand 1)ank. 



Eggs, four to six, pure white. 



A common summer resident is the Bank Swallow, breeding al)ini- 

 dantl}' in suitable places all over the country. It arrives about the 

 end of April and leaves in September, both dates being dependent, 

 to some extent, on the weather. 



Near Hamilton this species is very abundant, a favorite nesting 

 place being in the gravel bank which is cut through to form the 

 canal to Dundas. There are also many sand banks around the Bay 

 shore, perforated to an extent which shows that Hocks of young ones 

 are raised there every summer. 



Dr. Wheaton, in the "Birds of Ohio," mentions that this specie.s, 

 from being a common summer resident in the innnediate vicinity of 

 Columbus, has become oidy a passing migrant in s})ring and fall. 

 This lie attributes partly to the frequent disturbance of the nesting 

 places by freshets, and partly to the advent of the Rough-winged 

 Swallow, which, though comparatively a new species at Columbus, 

 is rapidly increasing in numbeis. The Bank Swallows are sprightly 

 little birds, greatly attached to their homes, and we hope that 

 nothing will happen here to cause them to change theii- residence. 



'I^his is anothei" .species which is common to Ontario and the 

 North-West, and is also found in Alaska. In the latter territory it 



