192 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of eleven specimens: length, 

 6-01; stretch, 12-43; wing, 4-34; tail, 201; gape, -02; tarsus, -50; 

 middle toe, -53; its claw, -25, 



56. Cotyle riparia, {Linne). Bank Swallow; Sand Martin. 

 A common summer resident; breeds. The Bank Swallow makes its 

 appearance here with less regularity than the other Swallows. I have 

 not observed it before May (22, 1874; 27, 1875 [at Niagara Falls] ; 21, 

 1877). It remains till about the first of September (August 27, 1877). 

 It is somewhat local in its habitat in summer. In the month of 

 August immense numbers are found, crowding the telegraph wires 

 along the railroad, where it crosses Constitution Island; it associates 

 with the other species of Swallows, which are then so abundant there 

 that I once brought down no less than three represented genera of 

 Swallows 'at a single discharge of my gun. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of nine specimens: length, 

 5-20; stretch, 10-85; wing, 3-95; tail, 2 00; bill from nostril, -18; gape, 

 •52; tarsus, -45; middle toe, -30; its claw, -21 ; outer toe, -26; its claw, 

 •14. 



57. Stelgidopteryx serripennis, (^?<cZM6on). Rough-wingkd 

 Swallow. A rare summer resident; breeds. As already noted, in 

 the "Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club," Vol. Ill, No. I, p. 

 46, January, 1878, I captured a female of this Carolinian species, sit- 

 ting upon its four fresh eggs, in May, 1874. The nest was built in a 

 bank, beside a pond ; during its construction the birds were often 

 seen to alight close together, on a board-fence, from which they de- 

 scended after the rough materials of which the nest was composed,— 

 hay and feathers. The eggs were pure white; one of them measures 

 •80 X -53 of an inch. 



I saw what I thought to be a bird of this species when in company 

 with Mr. C. H. Eagle, on July 4, 1878, near the Cadet camp at West 

 Point. On July 24, 1879, I saw several Rough winged Swallows upon 

 the telegraph wires, near Constitution Island, and shot one fine speci- 

 men. 



Z>/me?isions.— Measurements of No. 1,967, $, July 24, 1879, E. A. 

 M. : length, 5-62; stretch, 1210; wing, 4-12; tail, 2-05; bill from nos- 

 tril, -17; gape, -oo\ tarsus, -43; middle toe, 39; its claw, -17; outer 

 toe, -25; its claw, -12. 



58. Progne subis, {Linne). Purple Martin. A summer resi- 

 dent. It formerly bred abundantly in nearly all of the river towns 

 along the Hudson : but it is now much less numerous than it formerly 

 was, having been driven away by those detestable pests — the Euro- 

 pean Sparrows. I have rarely met with it during its migrations, and 

 have not been able to procure a single specimen. At Highland Falls, 

 I have only seen it on the following occasions : April 9, 1873, and May 



