lOG SINGING BIRDS — OSCIXES. 



the house. But these bugs were evidently a tlistinct species from the C'imex 

 ledidariuii, being different in form, narrower, and jiale yellowish, instead of 

 the characteristic color from whicli the name " Puce " is derived, through 

 the French name of the insect. Moreover, although many crawled into the 

 cracks of the weather-boards, and could easily ha^•e entered the low bedroom 

 windo\ys, none were seen afterwards. So I think we may relieve the swal- 

 lows of the charge of bringing in these pests, and encourage their building 

 in suitable places, on account of the immense numbers of insects they de- 

 stroy. As usual, tlieir parasites are peculiar to them, and may be called 

 C'imex lunifrontis. 



Hirundo bicolor, Vikillot. 



THE WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW. 



Hirmdo hkolor, Vieillot, (Jis. Am. t^opt. I. 1807, 61 ; pi. xxxi. — Audubon, Orn. Biog. 

 1831,491; pi. 98. Ib. Birds Amcr. I. 1840,175; pi. 46. — Brewer, X. Am. Ool. I. 

 1857, 100; pi. iv. f. 47 (Egg). — Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 310. — Cooper and 

 SucKi.EY, Xn. iii. Zool. of W. T. 185. — Heerm.\nn, X. vi. 36. 



Ilirnndu viridis, Wilson, Am. Orn. V. 1812, 49; pi. xxxviii. 



Sp. Char. Glossy metallic-green above ; entirely white beneath. Female much duller 

 in color. Length, 6.00 ; extent, 12.50 ; wing, 4.75; tail, 2.65. Iris and feet brown; bill 

 black. 



Hah. North America, from (he Atlantic to the Pacific. 



This swallow is to some extent a constant resident in California, a few 

 wintering probably in the extreme southern portion. I first noticed their 

 ajipearance at Stockton on February 22, 1863, and was informed by Dr. 

 Holden that it does not vary more than three days from that date usually. 

 On February 21, 1862, I had seen the first swallows near San Diego, prob- 

 ably of this species ; but they have such powers of flight that they might 

 sj^end the nights of winter a hundred miles from where they feed at mid- 

 day. When first arriving they fly so high tliat it is difdcult to distinguish 

 the species. 



