COTYLE KIPARIA, BANK SWALLOW. 



89 



i, 1840, 177, pi. 47.— GiRAUD, B. L. I. 1844, 38.— aiAxni,, J. f. O. vi, 1858, 100.— 



Heerm , P. R. R. Rep. x, 1859, pt. vi, 36. 

 Rerse fulva, Bp., Consp. Av. i, 1850, 341 (iu part). 

 Hirundo melanogaster, S\v., Phil. Mag. i, 1827, 336 (Mexico). 

 Fetrochelidoii melanogaslra, Cab., Mus. Hein. i, 1850, 47. 

 Fetrochelidon swainsoni, Scl., P. Z. S. 1858, 296; 1859, 376; Cat. A. B. 1862, 40.— Bd,, 



Rev. 1865, 290.— Sumicu., Mem. Bost. Soc. i, 1889, 547 (Vera Cruz). 



Rah. — North America at large, breeding almost throughout, iu suitable places. 

 Mexico. South to Panama. Not West Indian. 



List of specimens. 



■Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — 4776-80, Bijoux Hills. 



Later Expeditions. — 60420-3, Wyoming ; 61774, Idaho. 



Without present opportunity of direct comparison of several closely related species 

 .or varieties of the West Indies and South America, the above synonymy is made only 

 with reference to the North American bird, aud the Mexican, which is certainly not 

 distinct. The differences assigned to swainsoni, in both size and sliade of color, are 

 found in every sufficient series of the North American bird ; thus, of two specimens, 

 both shot at Washington, D. C, one has a whitish aud the otlier a brown frontlet. I 

 scarcely think that even varietal distinction can be predicated in this case. The West 

 Indian form (true fulva of Vieillot) appears to constitute all insular race worthy of re- 

 cognition, iu lacking the steel-blue iicctoral spot, and in other features. But there 

 seems to be little probability of its proving not to intergrade with lunifrons. 



Prof. Verrill has recently elucidated some interesting- facts relative to 

 tbe distribution of this species, substantiating its occurrence in Eastern 

 North America, long before the time when it was erroneously supposed 

 to have unmigTated from the west. My present belief iu the matter is, 

 that tbe Cliff' Swallow is, and always has been, amenable to tbe ordinary 

 laws of migration, and spread ov^er nearly all of North America, the 

 South Atlantic States perhaps excepted. The numerous recorded dates 

 of its appearance and breeding in particular localities, merely mark tbe 

 times wben tbe birds forsook their natural breeding places and built 

 under eaves, which enabled them to pass the summer where formerly 

 they were unable to breed for want of suitable accommodations. 



Dr. lEayden notices the abundance of this species alon^j tbe Missouri, 

 and of its nests on the vertical sides of the river blutis : "Near the 

 mouth of the Niobrara River, the clialk bluffs and cretaceous formation 

 No. 3 form lofty vertical walls, which are sometimes completely covered 

 with their nests." In passing up the river last year, I noticed the same 

 thing. Mr. Allen's observations are correspondent: He says it is "a 

 common inhabitant of tbe central plateau of tbe continent, throughout 

 ■which extensive region small colonies may be observed breeding on tbe 

 rocky escarpments of tbe plains and in the mountains. It, however, 

 even here manifests its preference for tbe eaves of buildings for nesting 

 sites, and wherever settlements occur it soon abandons its ancient cliffs 

 for these apparently more congenial locations. This s[)ecies and the 

 "White-bellied Swallow were the most common HiruKdiiics in South Park, 

 aiul both these species and tbe Barn Swallow were observtMl in tine 

 ■weather coursing above the tree-line summits of the Snowy liange." 



COTYLE PtlPAPIA, (Linn.) P.oie. 



Daiik SViiiJlo^v. 



Hirundo riparia, Linn., Svst. Nat. i, 1766, 344.— Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 1019.— Lath., 

 Ind. Orn. ii, 1790," .''.75.— Wii.s., Am. Orii. v, 46, pi. 38.— IU-., Syu. 1828, 6.">; Li.st, 

 1838, 9.— Sw. & Rich., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 333.— Nutt., Man. i. \>^\2. 607.— Aru., 

 Orn. Biog. iv, ld38, 584, pi. 385; Syu. 1839, 36; B. Am. i, 1840, 187, pi. 50.— 



