444 ORNlinOLOGY. 



out of reach, only two of those that were found being accessible. Both 

 were in horizontal fissures, scarcely large enough to admit the hand ; the 

 nest consisting of a flattened mass of sticks and straws, lined with feathers, 

 like those of the Bank SwalloAvs {Cofyle and Stdgidoptcrijx); one of them 

 contained five young birds, but the other had apparently been tampered 

 with in some way, since the parent was dead and lur three eggs broken. 

 'i'lic latter, like those of T. licolof and the two species above mentioned, 

 were pure whire, without markings. 



Although other observers, whoso statements we do not in the least 

 (loul)t, have doscri])ed the habits of this bird as arboreal, like those of the 

 White-bellied Swallow (T. hkolor) and the Purple Martin, we never found 

 it so in any locality during our trip, it being everywhere a strictly saxico- 

 line species, and an associate of PaiiijiMa saxatUis, Pdrochdidon Uuufrom, and 

 Hbundo horreoruin rather than of the species named, and to be found only 

 where preci})itous rocks, affording suitable fissures, occuired. AVhon on the 

 wing the appearance of this lovely Swallow is very striking, and so unlike that 

 of any other that it may be immediately distinguished. No other species 

 resembles it except the T. hicolor, which is somewhat similar on account of 

 the pure white lower parts ; but a more attentive examination discovers the 

 greater amount of white on the side of the head, and if the bird is viewed 

 from al)()ve the plumage is seen to be tricolored — the rump rich intense 

 violet, and the back lustrous green, the two colors being separated by a 

 very conspicuous, broad, and apparently continuous, band of snowy white 

 across the n])pc'r part of the rump, caused by the close approximation of the 

 two white flank-patches. 



This Swallow appeared to be a very silent species, but a few notes 

 ■were heard, which called to mind the chirping of young Paqde Martins, as 

 heard in rainy weather. 



List of sjyccimens. 



701, (?«//.; isliuid in Pyramid Liiko, Nevada, May 23, 1808. 5.1— lUJ— (?)— 4^. 

 Bill, deep black; iris, buiiit-uiuber ; tarsi and toos, deep sepia. 



817, 9 (III.; K.ist Humboldt Mountains, Nevada, July L'O, 180S. 5J— llg— (!)— 3§. 

 Hill, deep black; interior of mouth, pale naples yellow ; iris, dark sepia; tarsi and toes, 

 pale scpia-iiurple. 



1070, ? ml.; Salt Lake City, Utah (City Creek Cauou), May 29, 18C9. 



