TREE SWALLOW. 



white-bellied swallow. singing swallow. 



Tachycineta bicolor. 



Char. Above, rich steel blue, wings and tail with green reflections ; 

 beneath, white. Length about 6 inches. 



A'est. In a cavity of a tall dead tree, — often a deserted Woodpecker':: 

 hole, — sometimes in a bird box; made of grass and straw, lined with 

 feathers. 



Eggs. 4-9 (usually 5) ; white ; 0.75 X 0.55. 



This species, less common than the Barn Swallow and nearly 

 alUed to the common Martin, arrives in Pennsylvania and 

 New England about the middle of April, and extends its migra- 

 tions over the continent nearly to the Arctic circle, having 

 been seen by Dr. Richardson in the latitude of 53°; it is 

 also abundantly dispersed over the Rocky Mountains and the 

 Columbia River, where it breeds, as well as around Hudson 

 Bay and throughout the Northern and Middle States. On its 

 arrival, like many other species, it seeks out the society of 

 man and frequently takes possession of the mansion of the 

 Martin. When these advantages are unattainable it will be 

 content with the eaves of some deserted dweUing, a hollow 

 tree, its ancient residence, or even an horizontal branch when 

 large and convenient. 



The note of these birds is a shrill, lively, warbling twitter ; 

 but they are more quarrelsome and less sociable in the breed- 



