336 THE BANK SWALLOW. 



protection of some sturd)- hv roots below ground, brought off a brood on 

 Fifty-fifth Street, near my home. 



UnHke the Bank SwaUows, the Rougli-wings do not colonize to any great 

 extent, but are rather solitary. Favorable conditions may attract several pairs 

 to a given spot, as a gravel pit. but when together they are little given to 

 community functions. 



These Swallows are pretty evenly distributed thruout the length and 

 breailth of the State, save that they do not venture into high altitudes. Since 

 they are so catholic in taste, it would seem tliat they are destined to flourish. 

 They are possiblv now to be considered, after the Clift" Swallow, the most nu- 

 merous species. I found tliem regularly along the west Olympic Coast in the 

 summer of 1906; and, with Mr. Edson, of Bellingham, in June, IQ05, found 

 a single pair nesting in characteristic isolation on Bare Island, off W'aldron. 



Further than this, the bird under consideration resembles the other bird 

 Cjuite closely in notes, in habits, and in general appearance, and rec|uires sharp 

 distinction in accordance with the suggestions gi\en above under "Recognition 

 Marks." 



No. 129. 



BANK SWALLOW. 



A. O. U. No. 616. Riparia riparia (I^inn). 



Synonym. — Saxd Martin. 



Description. — .Idnlt: LTpperparts ])lain, brownish gray: wings fuscous ; 

 throat and bellv white: a brownish gray band across the breast: a tiny tuft of 

 feathers above the hind toe. There is some variation in the extent of the pectoral 

 band : it is sometimes produced indistinctly backward, and sometimes even inter- 

 rupted. Length 5.00-5.25 f 127-133. 3I : wing 3.95 f 100.3); tail 1.97 (50): bill 

 from nostril .20 (5.1). 



Recognition Marks. — Smallest of the Swallows ; throat white : brownish 

 gray pectoral band on white ground. 



Nesting. — Nest, at end of tunnels in banks, two or three feet in : a frail 

 mat of straws and grasses and occasionally feathers. Breeds usually in colonies. 

 Eggs, 4-6, sometimes 7, pure white. Av. size, .70 x .49 (17.8x12.5). Season: 

 June : one brood. 



General Range. — Northern Hemisphere : in America south to West Indies. 

 Central America, and northern South America ; breeding from the middle dis- 

 tricts of the United States northward to about the limit of trees. 



Range in Washington. — Summer resident; not common. A few large 

 colonies are known east of the Cascades; westerly they are rare or wanting. 



Migrations. — Spring: May 11, 1896, Chelan. 



