HmUNDINID.E — THE SWALLOWS. 35I 



Sp. Char. (iSTo. 32,2G9 $.) Above smokj^-brown, rather deeper on the head, perhaps 

 a httle paler on the rump. Larger quills and tail-feathers dusky-brown ; the secondaries 

 and greater coverts sometimes lighter along their external edges. The under parts (for 

 about half the total length) from bill to and including breast, with the sides of body and 

 lining of wings, mouse-gray, rather lighter along the throat; the rest of under parts, in- 

 cluding crissura, white, the latter with the shafts sometimes dusk}?-, and very rarely with 

 dusky blotches at the ends of the longer feathers. 



Young birds (as in 1,120) differ in a tinge of reddish-fulvous on the upper parts; the 

 wing-coverts, secondaries, and inner primaries mai'gined more or less broadly with a 

 brighter shade of the same. The gray of the under parts is also washed with this color, 

 especially on the chin and across the breast. The hooks of the edge of the wing have not 

 yet become developed. 



(No. 32,2G9 (J, fresh specimen before being skinned.) Total length, 5.40 ; expanse of 

 wings, 12.20 ; wing from carpal joint, 4.50. 



(No. 32,269 $, prepared specimen.) Total length, 5.20; wing, 4.50; tail, 2.25, depth 

 of fork, .15 ; difference of primaries, 2.28 ; length of bill from forehead, .40, from nostril, 

 .24, along gape, .56, width of gape, .43 ; tarsus, .45 ; middle toe and claw, .57 ; claw alone, 

 .19 ; hind toe and claw, .41 ; claw alone, .16. 



Hab. Whole United States (exclusive of Northeastern States ?) south to Central 

 Mexico. 



Habits. The Eongh-winged Swallow was first met with by Audubon, in 

 Louisiana, but described by him from specimens afterwards procured near 

 Charleston, S. C. He knew notliing in regard to its habits, and its distribu- 

 tion was equally unknown to him. It has since been found, but nowhere very 

 abundantly, in various parts of the United States. It has not been met with 

 on the Atlantic coast farther to the north than New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

 On the Pacific coast it is more common. Dr. Suckley speaks of it as quite 

 abundant both in Oregon and in Washington Territory. Dr. Cooper, in his 

 Zoology of Washington Territory, speaks of it as common about the sandy 

 cliffs of the bays and inlets of that coast, arriving near the Columbia in 

 May, and remaining only until the middle of August, when all these Swal- 

 lows go southwards, though their last brood is hardly able to fiy. He says 

 that they burrow holes in the soft sandy banks near tlie tops of cliffs, and 

 have generally the same habits as the common Bank Swallo^v. They have 

 no song, only a few chirping calls. 



Dr. Cooper, in his Eeport on the birds of California, further states tliat this 

 Swallow, in summer, is Ibund throughout the lower portions of that State. 

 He saw them at Fort Mojave as early as the 27th of Fel^ruary, and as he has 

 met with them at San Diego in ]Srovem1)ei', and also in January, he thinks 

 they may winter within the State. He describes their burrows in the sandy 

 banks of rivers as being to the depth of three feet, crowded very near 

 together, and near the upper edge of the bank, in no wise different from the 

 nesting of the common C. riparia. The nests are composed chiefly of dry 

 grasses, with a few feathers, and contain five white eggs. Occasionally, how- 

 ever, they resort to natural clefts in the bank or in buildings, and to knot- 

 holes in trees. In the fall they congregate in great numbers about certain 

 favorite spots, and keep much together in flocks. At night they roost in 



