396 SINGING BIRDS. 



and light are all their motions that the atmosphere alone 

 seems to be their favorite element. In the latter end of 

 summer, parties of these social birds may be often seen by the 

 sides of dusty roads, in which they seem pleased to bask. 



About the middle of August they leave the barns, and begin 

 to prepare for their departure, assembling in great numbers on 

 the roofs, still twittering with great cheerfulness. Their song 

 is very sprightly, and sometimes a good while continued. Some 

 of these sounds seem like 'fie 'fie 'fletalit, uttered with rapid- 

 ity and great animation. A while before their departure, they 

 are observed skimming along the rivers and ponds after insects 

 in great numbers, till the approach of sunset, when they assem- 

 ble to roost in the reeds. 



The Barn Swallow is a common bird throughout this Eastern 

 Province, and northward to the lower fur countries. 

 It winters in the West Indies and Central America. 



CLIFF SWALLOW. 



eave swallow. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons. 



Char. Above, dark steel blue ; forehead dull white; wings and tail 

 brownish black ; rump rufous ; chin, throat, and collar around neck deep 

 chestnut ; patch of blue black on breast ; remaining under-parts pale 

 gray tinged with rufous. Length about 5^ inches. 



Nest. Fastened to the side of a cliff or the eave of a building ; made 

 of pellets of mud and lined with grass and feathers. Usually gourd- 

 shaped, the entrance at the mouth of the gourd, — sometimes open on 

 top. 



Eggs. 4-6; white, variously marked with shades of brown and purple; 

 C.80 X 0.55. 



The Cliff Swallows have but recently come to the notice of 

 naturalists. Their summer residence in the temperate parts 

 of America is singularly scattered. They have long occupied 

 the regions of the Rocky Mountains, extending to the banks of 

 the Columbia, and the cliffs of the Missouri, and are probably 

 to be found on other large Western rivers. According to 



