•20G BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Ilii-undofulea "ViElLl.." AUD. Orn. Biog. 1, 1831.353, pi. 58 (iicp ViElLL.); B. Am. I. IMO. 

 1~, 1)1. 47.-.Sl'TT. Mull. 1, 183;;, OO. 



H.VD. Whole of temporato North AniiTloii, north to Novu Scotia, Severn B.. und 

 Alaska: winters in portions of Ceutrul nml South .\nierlou. 



"Sp. Chab, (No. 18.322, male.) Top of head elossy blnelc. with KTCCnish lustre: buet 

 and scapulars similar, but rather duller, and somewhat streaked by the appearanoe of the 

 white sides of the feathers.— the bases of the feathers, however, being plumbeous. Chin 

 throat, and sides of head, chestnut-brown, this extendine round on the nnpe as a <lls- 

 tlnet continuous collar, which Is bounded posteriorly by dull criiylsh. The chestnut 

 darkest on the chin, with a rich purplish tince. Rump above and on sides paler eheslnut 

 (sometimes fading Into whitish). Upper tall-coverts erayish brown, edscd with paler, 

 lluhter than the phiin brown of the wintts nml tali. Forehead, for the leneth i>f the bill, 

 creamy white, somewhat lunate, or e.xtendini; in an acute anele, a little over the eye; a 

 very narrow blackish frontlet: lorul reRion dusky to the bill. A patch of Klossy black In 

 the lower part of the breast, and a few black feathers in the extreme chin, the latter 

 sometimes scarcely appreciable. Undi:r parts dull white. tinKcd with reddish Kruy <in 

 the sides and inside of the wings. Feathers of crissum brownish Bray, edged with 

 whitish, with a tinee of rufous anteriorly (sometimes almost inappreciable). Nest of 

 mud, lined; built iiKainst rocks or beams; opening sometimes circular, on the side; 

 sometimes open above; eggs spotted. 



"Total length. 5.10: wing. -1.50: tall. iJO. nearly even: difference of primary uuUls. 2.10; 

 length of bill from forehead, .38. from nostril .25. along gape, .60. width, .50; tarsus. .48; 

 middle toe and claw. .72: claw alone, .'12,; hind toe and claw, .44; claw alone, .20. 



"There is no ditference between the sexes, Imt the young hird is 

 vei7 different from the .ailult in the following particulars : the steel- 

 blue above is replaced by lustreless dusky- brown, the feathers (ex- 

 cept ou head) being margined with a creamy tint ; the neck merely 

 tinged with rufous; the throat has only a dusky suflfusion, and the 

 chin is much mixed with white ; the frontal patch is obsolete." 

 (//(x^ .V. Am. li.) 



The Eave Swallow, Mud Swallow, or S(juare-tailed i5arn Swallow, 

 as this species is variously known in popular nonu'nchituiv is, locally, 

 an abundant bird. Wherever found it occurs in colonies, sometimes 

 comprising a hundnd or more pairs, wliich take possession of the 

 under side of the eaves of some large building — usually a barn or 

 warehouse — attaching their gourd-shaped nests near together, so 

 closely, sometimes, that some are built upon other. When located 

 in towns or their immediate vicinity these colonies sutler much from 

 the persecution of boys who delight to "pelt" the nests with various 

 missiles, which recreation should be abridged by those having the 

 authority, since it is an advantage to any community to have a 

 colony of these insectivorous bh-ds in its neighborhood. 



