THE AMERICAN BARN SWALLOW. 339 



its closed beak, swaying from side to side the wliile; and, of course, fallen 

 dirt or sand is carried out in the mouth. Sometimes the little miner finds a 

 lens-shaped tunnel more convenient, and I have seen them as much as seven 

 inches in width and onlv two in height. While the members of a colony, 

 especially if it be a small one, usually occupy a straggling, horizontal line of 

 holes, their burrows are not infrequently to be seen in loose tiers, so that the 

 bank presents a honey-combed appearance. 



Communal life seems a pleasant thing to these Swallows, and there is 

 usually a considerable stir of activity about the quarters. A good deal of social 

 twittering also attends the unending gyrations. The wonder is that the rapidly 

 moving parts of this aerial kaleidoscope never collide, and that the cases of 

 turning up at the wrong number are either so few or so amicably adjusted. 

 The nesting season is, however, beset with dangers. Weasels and their ilk 

 sometimes find entrance to the nesting burrows, and they are an easv prev to 

 underbred small boys as well. The undermining of the nesting clifif bv the 

 swirling river sometimes precipitates an entire colony — at least its real and 

 personal property — to destruction. 



A certain populous bank near Chelan faced west, and whene\er the west 

 wind blew, tlie fine volcanic ash, which composed the cliff, was wliirled into 

 the mouths of the burrows, so rapidly, indeed, that the inmates required to be 

 frequently at work in order to maintain an exit. A few dessicated carcasses, 

 which I came across in old, filled-up burrows, I attributed to misfortune in 

 this regard. 



Bank Swallows are the least musical of the Swallow kind. — unless, per- 

 haps, we except the Rough-winged species, whicli is naturall}- associated in 

 mind witli this. The}- have, nevertheless, a characteristic twitter, an unmelodi- 

 ous sound like the rubbing together of two pebbles. An odd effect is produced 

 when the excited birds are describing remonstrant parabolas at an intruder's 

 head. The heightened pitch in the tones of the rapidly approaching bird, fol- 

 lowed instantly by the lower tone of full retreat, is enough to startle a slumber- 

 ing conscience in one who meditates mischief on a Swallow's home. 



No. 130. 



AMERICAN BARN SWALLOW. 



A. O. U. No. 613. Hirundo erythrogastra P.odd. 



Synonyms. — American Barn Swallow. Fork-tailed Swallow. 



Description. — Adult: Above lustrous steel-blue; in front an imperfect 

 collar of the same hue; forehead chestnut; lores black; throat and breast rufous; 

 the remaining underparts, including lining of wings, more or less tinged with 



