NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



dent throughout the year in the plateaus of Mexico. It nests in old exca- 

 vations of woodpeckers or natural cavities of dead trees, always in the 

 vicinity of water. The nest is composed of leaves and grass thickly lined 

 with feathers. This bird often accepts the boxes set up for its accommo- 

 dation, but it is not easy to induce them to occupy such artificial domiciles. 



Hab. Temperate America. 



156. Violet-green Swallow — tachycineta thalas.sina. Pure white; 

 four or five in number, size .80 by .50. This lovely Swallow is common 

 from the central plains of North America to the Pacific coast. It breeds 

 abundantly in California, Oregon and Washington Territory, and is the 

 most characteristic Swallow of the pine regions of Arizona, and has been 

 found in considerable abundance in Colorado, nesting in all suitable local- 

 ities, and, like the Eave Swallow, usuall}^ in colonies. It nests in knot- 

 holes of oak and other deciduous trees and in the deserted excavations of 

 woodpeckers, and more recently it has been found nesting under the 

 eaves of houses, like the Cliff Swallow. The nest is made of dry grasses, 

 lined with a thick mass of feathers. It has also been found nesting in 

 holes in banks. 



Hab. Western and Middle Province of United States; south to Guatemala; east to Upper Missouri. 



157. Bank Swallow — cotile riparia. White; three to six; oval; 

 size .72 by .47. The Bank Swallow, or Sand Martin, found throughout 

 Europe, is also equally common throughout North America, and breeds in 

 the greater part of its range. The holes in which this bird nests are exca- 

 vated by the bird in the perpendicular face of a bank; the depth ranges 

 from two to four feet. The termination is usually somewhat enlarged and 

 the bottom is thinly covered with a few twigs, grasses and feathers. In 

 suitable localities immense numbers will occupy a large bank and so per- 

 forate it with holes so as to present the appearance of a huge honeycomb 



alive with bees. Hab. Europe, Asia, Africa, America. 



158. Rough-winged Swallow — stelgidoptervx serripennis. Immac- 

 ulate white; four to six in number, closely resembling those of the Bank 

 Swallow, but average a little larger, perhaps .75 by. 55. This bird breeds 

 throughout most of its United States range, nesting in the crevices of 

 stone walls and arches over bridges, sometimes in a chink in the boarding 

 of a building; almost invariably over running water. The nest is simply 

 constructed of grasses, straws, and lined with feathers. 



Hab. United States from Atlantic to Pacific, and adjoining British Provinces. 



161. Scarlet Tanager — pyranga rubra. Greenish-blue, blotched and 

 spotted with a reddish or rufous-brown, more or less confluent, in some 

 chiefly at the greater end ; three to five in number, size .90 to 1.02 in 



