LAND BIRDS. 553 



points outside the southern fourth of the state. It arrives from the south 

 at about the same time as the Bank Swallow, possibly a little later, and 

 departs in autumn somewhat earlier, probably between the middle and 

 last of August. 



Its close resemblance to the Bank Swallow has doubtless prevented its 

 recognition in many places, yet in spite of everything we cannot suppose 

 that it is abundant anywhere. Mr. Swales stated in 1904 that he knew 

 of but one breeding resort in southeastern Michigan, where a few pairs 

 occupied a sand bluff in connection with Bank Swallows. During the 

 past few years, however, both Swales and Taverner have found this species 

 fairly common in different places in Wayne and Monroe counties. Mr. 

 Taverner wrote in 1908: "I have found the Rough-winged Swallow 

 surprisingly common lately. I suppose that heretofoi'e it has been over- 

 looked, but now that I can pick it out I am finding it in several places." 

 Dr. Wolcott found it breeding in small numbers in crevices in a brick block, 

 in Grand Rapids, by the river. We have one specimen in the college collec- 

 tion which was taken in Barry county, and we have a set of five eggs taken 

 at Kalamazoo June 9, 1888. Two pairs were found buildings nests in the 

 bank of the Red Cedar river on the College campus, Ingham county, May 7, 

 1905, but they were disturbed by the dumping of rubbish over the bank 

 and abandoned the place. Swallows had nested regularly in this bank 

 for several years previously, but no specimens were taken and they may 

 have been Bank Swallows. Mr. S. E. White found a single specimen dead, 

 in July 1890, at Mackinac Island, and this appears to be the northernmost 

 record for the state. 



In Wisconsin it appears to l)e abundant, since it is stated to l)e the 

 common breeding liank swallow which is found scattered over most of the 

 state. " It is usually found nesting in single pairs, or not more than two to 

 four pairs in a single bank; whereas the bank Swallow nests in large 

 colonies."* Aside from the color differences given above several points 

 are useful in discriminating between the two species. The Rough-wings 

 often nest in crevices in masonry, for example, in holes in a brick wall 

 or in the chinks of a bridge pier, and when they nest in a sand bank or clay 

 bank rarely more than three or four nests are found in the same bank. 

 Sometimes a few pairs nest with a large colony of Bank Swallows, and in 

 this case their burrows, according to Butler, f are likely to be placed singly 

 and a little apart from the others. The Rough-wings are also said to build 

 much better nests than the Bank Swallows and their flight is slower and 

 more even, with fewer twists and zigzags, and more gliding and sailing. 



The eggs are three to six, pure white, unspotted and average .72 by .51 

 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, 



Tiiil cinarginate or sliglitly forked, the outer feather not more than one-fourth incli loniior 

 than the middle pair; adult always with outer edge of outer primary rougliened by the 

 recurved and hooked tips of the barbs. 



Adult (sexes alike): Upper parts uniform grayish brown; wings and tail a darker shade 

 of the same, sometimes nearly blackish toward the tips of the feathers; tertiaries often 

 edged with lighter gray; chin, throat, breast and sides light brownish-gray; belly and under 

 tail-coverts white; bill and feet blackish; iris brown. Young: Similar to adult, but whole 

 ])liiiu;igc more or less washed with brownish, the tertiaries and seconilarios tipped and 

 edgcil with pale reddish-brown or ciimamon. 



Length 5 to 5.75 inches; wing 4 to 4.70; tail 2.05 to 2.35. 



♦Kumlien & Hollister, Birds of Wisconsin, p. 100. 

 t Birds of Indiana, 1897, p. 999. 



