Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 93 



inw be seen at a distance and in such a light that the 

 colors and markings of the bird are obscured, the illus- 

 ion is all the more complete except that wonder may 

 arise as to wdiat a Chat is doing in the open hills. The 

 song is composed of syllables or repetitions of syllables 

 pieced together in a more or less regular fashion. Some of 

 the notes may be expressed as, "cheerp' -cheerp' -cheerp' 

 cheerp' -ehee-ee-ee-ee-ee-hir' -ta-hir' ta-hir' ta-who-oo-oo 

 oo-oo-3'or ' da-yor ' da-hurt '-hurt '-hurt '-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee~ ' ' 

 This is delivered most frequently by a bird on the wing, 

 but it may be given from a perch on a fence post or weed 

 stalk. When the bird sings thus in flight it rises regularly 

 and directly into the air with rapid wing-beats until, at 

 the summit of its ascent, it pauses and begins to descend 

 by a series of awkward, jerky motions of its set, extended 

 wings, the motion being more like that of a butterfly than 

 of a bird. The performance is peculiar, and the song, from 

 the representation I have given it, may seem to be any- 

 thing but musical but in reality it is very pleasing. River 

 valley and hills are the habitats by preference of the 

 species ; the main requirement is open country. 



103. Pctrochelidon lunifrons (Say) — Cliff Swallow. 



I saw one or two migrating Cliff Swallows on June 1, 

 2 and 7, 1912, in the valley of the Loup river. 



104. Hirnndo erythrogastra Boddaert — Barn Swallow. 



Barn Swallows nested at suitable places along the river 

 valley and frequently came past the Reserve on their 

 foraging expeditions, although none nested near the sta- 

 tion. F. M. Chapman found them present on May 3-6, 1906. 



105. Iridoprocne bicolor (Vieillot) — Tree Swallow. 



Two Tree Swallows were among the migrants at the 

 Reserve on May 23, 1912, evidentl}^ on their way to breed- 

 ing grounds to the northward, possibly along the Niobrara 

 river in the county adjoining on the north, where they are 

 known to nest. This swallow was found here by F. M. 

 Chapman also, May 3-6, 1906. 



106. Riparia riparia (Linnaeus) — Bank Swallow. 



On the Dismal river the present species was equally 

 common with the following form, breeding in the banks 

 formed by the stream in cutting down the adjoining hills. 

 On the ]\Iiddle Loup river these swallows were present 



