191 



Giraiid gives the following:^ ''Early in the spring swallows are 

 sometimes so benumbed as to be almost in a lifeless state. This is 

 readily accounted for by the cold storms that set in after their arrival, 

 which also cut off their insect food — at such times they have been 

 found so much exhausted as to be unable to rise, and in some in- 

 stances have been observed lying dead about the fields." This ac- 

 count brings to mind a circumstance related to me by my father: 

 Many years ago, during a severely unseasonable storm in the spring, 

 numbers of Swallows perished in this region, either through cold or 

 starvation, and were found lying dead upon the barn floors in rows. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of eighteen specimens : length, 

 6-95; stretch, 12-85; wing, 4 G7 ; tail, 3 30 ; bill from nostril, -2-1; gape, 

 •58; tarsus, -45; middle toe, -40; its claw, •21. 



54. Tachycineta bicolor, {VieiUot). White-bellikd Swallow. 

 A summer resident; breeds; abundant during its migrations. Arrives 

 early in April (May 2, 1874; April 30, 1875; 21, 1876, 17, de Nottbeck, 

 at Fishliill ; 25, 1877 [shot at Fairfield, Connecticut, on the 7th] ; 20, 

 1878; 22, 1879), remaining till autumn. It breeds in holes, in trees 

 standing in the water, at the borders of ponds and streams. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of fifteen specimens : length, 

 5-90; stretch, 12-60; wing, 4-70; tail, 2-35; bill from nostril, -22; tar- 

 sus, -45. 



55. Petrochelidon lunifrons, {Say). Eave Swallow; Cliff 

 Swallow. A common summer resident; breeds. Arrives in April 

 (May 22, 1874; April 30, 1875; May 2, 1876; 21, 1877; 9, 1878; April 16, 

 1879), and spends the summer, departing in September (10, 1876). 



This bird of remarkable history breeds in large colonies. It com- 

 mences nidification early in June. It formerly nested in large commu- 

 nities upon the stone buildings of the West Point Military Academy. 



Giraud gives the following account (''The Birds of Long Island," 

 p. 38, 1844) of this species: "The appearance of this Swallow in the 

 lower parts of the State of New York is quite recent. The first that 

 I have known to have been observed in this vicinity, was shot at Man- 

 hattanville, in 1842, by Mr. Lawrence. In the month of June of the 

 present year, a few specimens were seen in the suburbs of Brooklyn 

 by Mr. Brasher, and in the latter part of August I met it at Gravesend. 

 Previous to this year, I have no knowledge of its occurring on Long 

 Island; but I should not be surprised if even in a few years it were 

 found quite common. On Long Island I am not aware that the Cliff 

 Swallow has been known to breed ; but Mr. Bell has informed me that 

 he found its nest near his residence in Rockland County, in the month 

 of May last — and according to his observations, it had not visited his 

 section previous to the present year." 



1 Birds of Long Island, p. 36, 1844. 



