ANDERSON — THE BIRDS OF IOWA. 335 



resident in many localities, but appears to breed rather locally. 

 It is the earliest Swallow to migrate in spring, arriving in the 

 latter part of March or first of April, and remaining in the fall 

 until the latter part of September. 



In Jackson county H. J. Giddings reports that it "nests in 

 holes in trees and stubs. Have never found a nest except near 

 water. Breeds plentifully along the sloughs and lakes bordering 

 the Mississippi River." Blackhawk — "common migrant; rather 

 rare breeder" (Peck). Lee — "rare summer resident; common 

 migrant" (Praeger, Currier). Mills — "common summer resi- 

 dent" (Trostler). Scott — -"common summer resident" (Wilson), 

 Polk — "common summer resident; nests" (Johnson). Woodbury 

 — "common summer resident; nests" (Rich). Winnebago — 

 found one nest June 4, 1894, i" the top of an old pump, standing 

 in a foot of water in a slough; four pure white eggs. In August 

 the species becomes very abundant, and hundreds may be seen in 

 rows upon the telegraph or telephone wires in the country (An- 

 derson). Other observers report the species only as a migrant. 



Genus Clivicola Forster. 

 274. (616). Clivicola riparia (Liini.!. Bank Swallow. 



The Bank Swallow or "Sand Swallow" is an abundant summer 

 resident in Iowa from the latter part of April until the middle of 

 September. It breeds abundantl}- in large colonies wherever suit- 

 able banks or cuts are found in which the nesting burrows can be 

 excavated. These are usually dug in the vertical side of the 

 clayey banks of streams, but any suitable bank in a railroad cut 

 or sand-pit may be tenanted b}^ them. Sometimes a bank will be 

 literally honeycombed with the burrows, which vary from a few 

 inches to three feet in depth, enlarged at the further extremity, 

 in which five or six white eggs are laid upon a few grasses and 

 feathers. This species is often confused with the Rough- winged 

 Swallow, but ma)^ be readily distinguished by its dusky pectoral 

 band contrasting with whitish under parts. The only Iowa local- 

 ity from which the species was not reported was Winneshiek 

 county. Dr. C. C. Smith reporting that all the birds he had shot 

 were of the Rough-winged species. In Winnebago, Hancock, and 

 Johnson counties I have found the Bank Swallows nesting in very 

 large colonies. 



