440 OUNIXnOLOGY. 



tlirust from tlie entniiico tu his nest, lie entertained liis mute with Ii(|uiil 

 warblings, varied by sweet cadences, his throat swelling and vibratinj; 

 with the volume of his son<r. 



PETROCnELIDON LUNIFROXS. 



Clitr Swallow. 



Jlirundo luni/rom, Say, Lohr's Expert., 11, 1823, 47.— Baibd, B. N. Am., 1S58, 



3()9 ; Ciital., 1S59, No. 220.— Cooper, Oru. Cal., 104. 

 PelrochcUdon litnifrons, .Sclatkr, Cat. Am. 15., 18(>2, 40.- Baiud, Ili'viow, 1S(m, 



288.— CouKS, Kc.v, 1872, 114; Clieck Li.st, 187.J, No. 114; B. N.W., 1874,88. 



— B. B. & K., Hist. N. Am. B., 1, 1874, 334, pi, xvi, 13.— Uensuaw, 1875, 215, 



Tlie first land-bird observed after arriving at San Francisco, was this 

 familiar and widely-diffused species, multitudes of which were observed to 

 swarm about certain old buildings along with smaller numbers of Purple 

 Martins {Protjiic sithis). It was also noticed along every portion of our 

 route across the Great Basin, especially in the vicinity of rivers or lakes, 

 or at the settlements, whether large or small. The species may be consid- 

 ered the most a])undant one of the family throughout the West, the next 

 in order being the "White-bellied and Ilough-winged Swallows {Ttichi/cineta 

 hicolor and Sh'hjidoptcrijx scrripennis). In localities most remote from settle- 

 ments it of course built its nest only on the face of overhanging cliffs, but 

 if near a settlement, any large building, as a barn or church, was almo.st 

 sure to be selected ; in either case, vast numbers conjrrenratinfr tojrether and 

 fixing their peculiar gourd-shaped nests side by side or upon each other, the 

 same as in the east. It was not observed to build in any other wav, and 

 it is probable that the nesting-habits of this species are less varialjle than 

 those of its kindred, excepting, ])erhaps, the common Barn Swallow (Ilirumh 

 liorrcoruni), which differs chiefly in selecting caves or the interior of dwell- 

 ings, and in being not gregarious. 



List of specimens. 



Sj'2,S(t(l.; K.ist IliimboliU Motititaiiis, Ni-vada, -July 22, 18C8. G— 12^— (?)— 3J. 

 Bill, deep black ; iiitirior of iiioutli, pinkisli-diisky ; iris, <lark clari't-browii ; tarsi anil 

 toes, (lark lioni-cojor. 



871, e{,'g (1); East llmiiboUit Mountains, Aujiust 25, 1808. Nest attached to .sido 

 of a raltor, uudcrucatli roof of a sbed, at raucLe. 



