Cliff Swallow {Petrochelidou hinifrons and sub-species) 



Length, about 6 inches. The rufous upper tail coverts serve to distinguish this 

 swallow from other species. 



Range : Breeds from central Alaska and northern Canada south over the 

 United States (except Florida) and to Guatemala; winters in South America. 



The cliff and barn swallow are members in good standing of the original 

 guild of masons, and their clever constructive work in nest building with mud 

 pellets will bear the severest professional inspection. Through much of the west 

 the cliff swallow still attaches its mud house to the faces of cliffs as from time 

 immemorial, and it was not until the farmers' house and barn offered a satisfac- 

 tory substitute for granite and sandstone bluffs, that the bird became really- 

 numerous in our eastern States. In some localities this swallow is not a welcome 

 guest about the homestead as its nest is apt to contain parasites which the good 

 housekeeper fears. Such parasites, however, are not to be dreaded as they will 

 live only on birds. The cliff swallow performs invaluable service to man since 

 its food consists wholly of insects, and among them are mang pestiferous kinds, 

 such as leaf bugs, leaf-hoppers and the boll weevil. Whoever then protects this 

 and other species of swallows and encourages their presence on their premises 

 does good and patriotic service and can moreover be sure of adequate reward. 



Black Duck {Anas rubripes) 



Range : Breeds from central Keewatin and northern Ungava south to north- 

 ern Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and southern Maryland ; winters from Nova 

 Scotia south to southern Louisiana and Colorado; ranges west in migration to 

 Nebraska and central Kansas. 



The black duck is essentially confined to the Eastern States, usually migrating 

 no farther west than Kansas, and that rarely. It is a favorite object of pursuit 

 by sportsmen, and in the struggle to maintain existence has learned its lesson so 

 well that it is still comparatively numerous in localities where less wary species 

 would long ago have been exterminated. Originally a diurnal-feeding species, 

 like most ducks, persecution has taught the black duck to seek safety on the broad 

 ocean during the hours of daylight, and to resort to inland ponds for the purpose 

 of feeding only' after sunset. In order to protect this and other waterfowl one 

 of the regulations under the Federal migratory bird law forbids shooting after 

 sunset and before sunrise, and the enforcement of this regulation will probably 

 do more for the preservation of the black duck than any other provision that 

 could be devised. That protection for this species is sorely needed appears from 

 the fact that throughout its range, except in a few localities, the black duck has 

 of late years steadily diminished in numbers. 



The black duck is excellent eating, and as experiments prove that it can be 

 reared in captivity it may be raised for the market or be freed for restocking suit- 

 able localities. 



The Florida black duck is a closely allied species, with similar habits, and is 

 resident in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. 



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