ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW 431 



the top of the bank, it often excavates nearer the base. In building 

 under bridges and culverts the bird sometimes places its nest so near the 

 water that even a slight rise would engulf it. Dickey (MS.) says: 

 "From potholes in sandstone cliffs near Worely, Monongalia County, 

 W. Va., I have known anglers to extract the young of rough-winged 

 swallows. These, they contended, proved to be excellent bait in bass 

 fishing in local creeks." 



Peters (1936) lists specimens of this swallow from Maryland and 

 Virginia as being found infected with the mites Liponyssus sylvianmi 

 and Ati^icholaelaps sp. 



Without positive proof I believe that the common sand crab 

 {Ocypode albicans) might, to a limited extent, prey on eggs and nest- 

 ings of the roughwing. This crustacean abounds on the south Atlantic 

 coast, excavating its burrows in sand hills and the bases of sand 

 banks, as do the swallows. It causes much damage by burrowing into 

 turtle nests on the Carolina coast and consuming the eggs. It is ever 

 on the alert for anything edible that the waves might bring ashore. 

 Terns and shearwaters washed up after hurricanes are quickly ruined 

 as specimens, as I have several times sorrowfully experienced. 



Winter. — ^While this swallow is highly migratory and the great 

 majority of individuals winter south of the United States, records 

 from five States designate it as a winter visitant within our borders. 

 It is possible that some of the so-called spring arrivals are birds 

 that have wintered in the neighborhood. Wayne (1910) says: "The 

 birds of this species which winter along the coast, generally, if not 

 invariably, confine themselves to large bodies of water adjacent to 

 wooded lands." 



Griscom (1932) says that "the Rough-winged Swallow is a com- 

 mon winter visit to the whole of Guatemala, except the Pacific 

 coast." He quotes from Mr. Anthony's notes as follows: "Common 

 during the winter months to about 8000 feet altitude. The first 

 were noted at Progreso about September 8, with mixed flocks of 

 Cliff and Barn Swallows. A considerable flight of these species ap- 

 peared at this station on the above date and hundreds were seen 

 along the telegraph wires for a day or two, when they became much 

 less common but not rare until the following May. In the altitudes, 

 Stelgidopteinjx is apt to be seen with T'ochycineta which is equally 

 common." 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — North and South America. 



Breeding range. — The rough-winged swallow breeds north to cen- 

 tral British Columbia (Kispiox Valley) ; Alberta (probably Jasper 

 Park, Camrose, and Lake Newell) ; northeastern Montana (Bowdoin 

 Lake) ; North Dakota (Bismarck and Grafton) ; southeastern Mani' 



