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138 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 14 



and along river canyons, and on buildings, ])rt'ferring eitlu'i- stone buildings or 

 wooden ones that are not painted. Nests in colonies that are sometimes vei'v 

 large. 



The migrations take place in May and August. The birds evidently arrive 

 somewhat earlier in the pi-airie region than in the mountain v^dieys. Six years 

 at Terry give an average of May 16, with the earliest date iMay 8. 1900. Four 

 years at Big Sandy average May 12, with the earliest ^lay 2, 1905 (Oberholsei-, 

 1917, p. 321). In more western localities dates are as follows: Gallatin County, 

 June 4, 1909; Gregson, Silver Bow County, ^lay 30, 1910; Anaconda, .May 28. 

 1911; and Chotean, May 17, 1912; Bitterroot Valley, May 27. 1910, May 24, 

 1911, May 25, 1912, and :May 16, 1913 (Bailey, IMS). Fall dates are: Columbia 

 Falls, September 4, 1895 (Oberholsei-, 1917, p. 322) ; Logan, Gallatin County, 

 August 25, 1909; Xyack, August 21, 1915 (DuBois, MS). 



This species nests very abundantly, but there seem to be no records to show 

 when eggs are laid. I have noted birds building nests or gathering material from 

 June 23 until as late as July 11. One colony at Choteau began building on July 

 1, but had no eggs laid or nests lined by July 6. The nests wen^ knocked down 

 by the owner of the building a day or two later, and I found out nothing more. 

 1 have noted broken egg shells at the foot of a cliff on which th'^se swallows were 

 nesting, late in July, shells that I believe were thrown out of the nest by the oM 

 liii'ds immediately after the eggs hatched. 



261. Hirundo erythrogaster IJoddaert 



Barn Swallow 



A regular summer resident throughout the state, commoner eastward, bui 

 nowliere abundant. The numbers of this species are very few when compared 

 to the Cliff Swallow. Reported by nearly all observers and from <ill parts of the 

 state. Nests in the ui)i)er Sonoran and Transition /ones in l)ai'ns, on rocks and 

 under bridges. 



The migrations occur in May and late August or early September. Seven 

 years at Terry average May 11, with the earliest May 5, 1894. and four years at 

 Great Falls average IMay 15, with the earliest May 12, 1890 (Oberholser, 1918, 

 p. 151). The average arrival in Custer and Dawson counties is ^Tay 13 (Cam(^- 

 ron, 1908a. p. 45). Other dates of arrival are: Gallatin Valley. ]May 24, 1909 

 and :\ray 28, 1911 ; C^ioteau, IMay 23, 1912; Bitterroot Valley, IMay 13, 1910, IMay 

 24. 1911, .May 13, 1912, and I\Iay 7, 1913 (Bailey, MS). The only definite fall 

 date I have is from Fridley, Park County, August 29, 1908. It is, however, 

 mentioned as abundant in CJallatin (*ounty in early Se])tember (Richmond and 

 Knowlton, 1894, p. 306), and is recorded from Great Falls, September 4, 1889 

 (Oberholser, 1918, p. 152). 



There are only a few notes on the nesting of this .species in Montana. Two 

 broods are raised in Custer and Dawson counties (Camcr'on, 1908a. ]). 45V WinU 

 were observed gathering nesting material at Bowen, in Ihc Big Hole Basin. -lune 

 20, 1913 (Forrest, 1914, p. 195). The only nests thai I liiivc s-m n li;iv<- bc<'U in 

 July, in locations where it was imi)ossible to determine their contents. A nest 



