348 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



There is much variation among individuals regarding the distribution of 

 the semi-metallic tints of the upper parts ; generally the whole dorsal region 

 is overlaid by a " dusting," as it were, of soft brownish-purple ; in specimens 

 colored thus, the upper tail-coverts are pure dark -green, without a tinge of 

 purple. In other specimens, on the contrary, tlie dorsal region is nearly 

 pure green, that of the upper tail-coverts less golden, and mixed with a very 

 beautiful ricli soft violet. 



AVinter specimens from Guatemala and Mexico have the iipper secon- 

 daries very sharply and broadly bordered terminally with pure white. 



Habits. The Violet-green Swallow is a common bird, from tlie central 

 plains of j^orth America to the Pacific coast, and is found at different sea- 

 sons from Washington Territory to South America. It has been found as far 

 east as Nebraska, and in abundance at Fort Bridger, in Utah. 



As observed, in Washington Territory, by Drs. Suckley and Cooper, it is 

 said to arrive at Puget Sound early in JMay, and to frequent entirely the high 

 prairies bordered with oak and other deciduous trees, in the knot-holes ol' 

 which, or in deserted Woodpeckers' holes, it breeds. Its song is described as 

 pleasing and varied, but rather weak. They found it to be quite abundant 

 in the interior of Oregon and of Washington Territory, and in its habits and 

 mode of flight hardly distinguishable from the bicolor. 



In California, according to the observations of Dr. Cooper, it arrives in 

 Santa Clara Valley as early as March 15, where it chiefly frequents the groves ■ 

 of oaks along the sides of the valleys, across the whole Coast Eange, excepting 

 in the immediate neighborhood of the sea. Their nest, so far as known, is 

 always in the knot-holes of oaks, and they have never been known to breed in 

 the immediate vicinity of dwellings, excepting only when their favorite trees 

 were so situated. It is generally in an inaccessilde place, and their eggs 

 are not often obtained. These are pure white, resembling those of the 

 bicolor and the riparia. Townsend states that he found them nesting in the 

 deserted nests of the H. Imiifrons, but in this he may have been mistaken. 

 The eggs he gave to Mr. Audubon as those of this species undoubtedly 

 belonged to the hmifrons. They leave California for the south in Sep- 

 tember. 



Dr. Coues also found this Swallow in Arizona, where it was the most 

 abundant and characteristic Swallow of the pine regions of that Territory. 

 It is a summer resident at Fort Whipple, where it arrives about March 20, 

 and remains until late in September. 



In the Province of Vera Cruz, Mr. Sumichrast found this Swallow resident, 

 not only in the hot belt of the coast, but also in the temperate region and 

 throughout the plateau, at alnio.st all heights, and was almost everywhere 

 very common. 



Mr. Salvin also states that early in March great numbers occur near Du- 

 enas, Guatemala, Mdiere they remain for a short time. During that time they 

 are to be found flying over the open land to the south of the Lake of Duenas. 



