Jones — Birds of Ckdar I'oint. 103 



are two iiestiDg colonies in tlie Oberlin quadrangle. During the 

 migrations a few inclividuals are seen with groups of swallows, es- 

 pecially along the lake sihore. I am unable to suggest the reason 

 for this rapid decrease in numbers. The old barns where they 

 used to nest are still standing, and conditions for breeding seem to 

 be favorable. English Sparrows have not ytt invaded the nesting 

 places to any destructive extent. The median date of spring ar- 

 rival is April 2G ; the latest fall record is September 23, 1907. Cliff 

 Swallows are too few to accurately determine their relations to the 

 other swallows in their fall grouping just preceding the southward 

 migration. Occasionally they seem to flock with other swallows. 



180. Hinindo e)-ijthrogastcr. — Barn Swallow. 



Everywhere common except in woods. Nests are built iu any 

 available building, or even under bridges. I have never found it 

 nesting among the shale cliffs, nor about sandstone ledges. From 

 its nesting places it sallies forth over the fields and meadows in 

 search of food. It is also regularly seen in the river gorges flying 

 up and down the stream courses. The median date of spring mi- 

 gration is April 11. It usually remains common in the vicinity of 

 its nesting places until late August, after which it forms great com- 

 panies in the vicinity of the swamps, passing the night on tele- 

 graph wires or other similar perches, before winging southward. 

 Mention has already been made of the flights of this swallow ac- 

 companying the Martin fall migration flights. Such birds must be 

 those which have nested well north. Barn Swallows remain in the 

 vicinity of Oberlin until the last of September (October 15, 190G). 

 None have been known to nest anywhere along the Cedar Point 

 sand spit, because there is no suitable place, but numbers are seen 

 flying up and down the lake shore and over the liarbor. 



181. Iridoprocne Mcolor. — Tree Swallow. 



Scarce everywhere except along the Cedar Point sand spit, where 

 it nests in the tx-ees not far from the mouth of Black Channel, east- 

 erly. It is regularly recorded during the spring migrations about 

 Oberlin, especially at the Water Works reservoir, but never more 

 than three or four individuals at a time. After the breeding sea- 

 son, during late July, I have seen great companies gathering to roost 

 in the swamp vegetation east of the mouth of Black Channel. They 

 formed the characteristic funnel group befoi'e finally settling into 

 the vegetation for the night. In the morning they often disperse 

 over the marsli, many alighting on the tops of cattails or other stiff 

 marsh plants, before finally flying away. The median date of ar- 

 rival is April 11, the earliest April 1, 1908. The latest fall record 

 is October 22, 1906. This swallow was noted among the islands, 

 but there was no direct evidence of nesting on any island. How- 



