WIIITE-BELLIED SWALLUW. 



531 



mixed with white. The sexes are similar, witli the exception that perhaps tlie female is greener above. In 

 winter the tertiaries are tipped with white. The young males also have the tertiaries tipped with white, 

 besides not being as bright ah ive. The young females ai-e smoky-brown above, with a tinge of greenish and 

 a dark band across the breast. Nestlings of both se.xes are smoky-brown above ; white beneath, with a more 

 or less distinct band of duskv across the breast, the sides are also tinged with duskv. 



Distributed throughout the 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the uniform steely blue color above and wliite below. 

 United States, south into Mexico. Winters in the more southern portion. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of thirty-two specimens. Length, 0.80: stretch, 12.4.5 ; wing, 4..^5; tail, 2.2.~) : 

 bill, .3.5 ; tarsus, .4.5. Lmgest specimen, 6.2-); greatest extent of wings, 13. 3r); longest wing, 4.93; tail, 

 2.00 ; bill, .50 ; tarsus, .75. Shortest specimen, 5.10 ; smallest extent of wings, 12.00 ; shortest wing, 4.10 ; 

 tail, 1.30; bill, .25 ; tarsus, .40. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nbsts, placed in holes of trees, bird boxes, etc : composed of dried grasses and lined with feathers- 

 Varying in size with the compartment in which they are placed. Eggs, six in number, white in color ; form, 

 from a short oval to a long pointed oval. Dimensions, from .S3 by .55 to .63 by .45. 



in Florida during 



HABITS. 



The White-Bellied is the only Swallow that I have ever seen 

 winter. They are quite abundant there but as they move across the country- in large 

 straggling flocks are not often seen in one locality for 

 many days in succession. While in the state they do 

 not utter a note, but skim silentl}' over the large inland 

 lakes, or sail above the almost limitless piny Avoods. In 

 early sprhig tliej- leave for the north, arriving in New 

 England the earliest of all the Swallows. Here they 

 liave a song, which is however, not as clear and warbling 

 as that of the Barn Swallow ; their flight is also heavier, 

 neither do they move as swiftly. The.se birds breed in 

 Martin boxes, holes in out-buildings, or in hollow stubs ; 

 while nesting in the last named situation they usually 

 choose a hole formed by nature, but I found a colony 

 busily eugaged in excavating domiciles in partially 

 decayed birch stubs which stood in the Avaters of Lake 

 Umbagog, Maine. The work w.is [)erformed witli the 

 bills, not after the maimer of Nuthatches, Titmice, etc., 

 but by simply breaking away small pieces of the punky 

 •wood and removing theuL 



The White-bellied Swallows deposit their eggs during the lirst week in June ; the 

 young leave the nests earl}- in July ; after this time they all congregate on the sea-shore 

 in vast flocks. During some years the numbers which assemble in early autumn are 

 almost incredible, for I have seen the air over the broad marshes of Ipswich so filled A\ith 



Fig. 03. Head and tail of Adult 

 Male White-bellied Swallow. 



