HIRUNDINID^ — THE SWALLOWS. 331 



alpine regions of Mexico, and is also found at Cape St. Lucas. Accidental 

 specimens have been detected in England and in Ireland. It is abundant 

 on the Saskatchewan. Burmeister states that this species is common in the 

 vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, and that it is distributed in moderate abundance 

 through the whole of tropical South America. Von Pelzeln also cites it as 

 occurring on the Eio Negro and at Manaqueri through the three winter 

 months, nesting in old buildings and in holes in the rocks. It is, however, 

 quite possible that they refer to an allied but distinct species. 



In a wild state the natural resort of this species, for nesting and shelter, 

 was to hollow trees and crevasses in rocks. The introduction of civilized 

 life, and with it of other safer and more convenient places, better adapted to 

 their wants, has wrought an entire change in its habits. It is now very 

 rarely known to resort to a hollow tree, though it will do so where better 

 provision is not to be had. Comfortable and convenient boxes, of various 

 devices, in our cities and large towns, attract them to build in small commu- 

 nities around the dwellings of man, where their social, familiar, and confiding 

 disposition make them general favorites. There they find abundance of in- 

 sect food, and repay their benefactors by the destruction of numerous injuri- 

 ous and noxious kinds, and there, too, they are also comparatively safe from 

 their own enemies. These conveniences vary from the elegant martin- 

 houses that adorn private grounds in our Eastern cities to the ruder gourds 

 and calabashes which are said to be frequently placed near the humbler 

 cabins of the Southern negroes. In Washington the columns of the public 

 buildings, and the eaves and sheltered portions of the piazzas, afford a con- 

 venient protection to large numbers around the Patent Office and the Post- 

 Office buildings. 



The abundance of this species varies in different parts of the country, from 

 causes not always apparent. In the vicinity of Boston it is quite unusual, 

 though said to have been, forty years since, quite common. There their 

 places are taken by the H. bicolor, who occupy almost exclusively the mar- 

 tin-houses, and very rarely build in hollow trees. 



Sir Jolni Richardson states that it arrives within the Arctic Circle earlier 

 than any other of its family. It made its first appearance at Great Bear 

 Lake as early as the 17th of May, when the ground was covered with snow, 

 and the rivers and lakes were all icebound. 



In the Southern States it is said to raise three broods in a season ; in its 

 more northern distribution it raises but one. Their early migrations expose 

 the Martins to severe exposure and suffering from changes of weather, in 

 which large numbers liave been known to perisli. An occurrence of this 

 kind is said to have taken place in Eastern Massachusetts, wliere nearly all 

 the birds of this species were destroyed, and where to this day their places 

 have never been supplied. 



Within its selected compartment the Martin prepares a loose and irregular 

 nest. This is composed of various materials, such as fine dry leaves, straws, 



