PASSERES 0SC1NES — AMPELIDJE. 53 



of thousands are to be seen. There are many exposures along the river 

 and elsewhere which afford eligible nesting sites to colonies of Bank 

 Swallows. It usually arrives late, perhaps not till the second week in 

 May, and departs about the middle of September. On the 23d of August, 

 1859, an albino was shot by Mr. Louis D. Ooues, and the specimen is still 

 preserved in the Smithsonian. [163] 



67. (92.) Stelgidopteryx serripennis (And.) Bd. Rough-winged Swallow. 



A summer resident, but not common. Still it may always be found 

 along the Potomac in the neighborhood of Little Falls, where it breeds 

 on the cliffs. Arrives the third week in April and departs about the 

 middle of September. [1^1] 



6§. (9o.) Progne subis {Linn.) Bd. (P. purpurea of the original edition.) Purple 

 Martin. 



A summer resident ; common. Arrives the 1st of May and leaves 

 early in September. Many still breed in the city, about the public 

 buildings, nesting iu the capitals of the columns, especially of the Gen- 

 eral Post-Office. But they have had a hard fight for it with the English 

 Sparrows, and though able to hold their own w hen once engaged, they 

 are so much hurried and worried that their numbers have sensibly 

 diminished since the introduction of the pests. [165J 



Family AMPELID.E : Chatterers. 



69. (94.) Ampelis cedrorum (Yieill.) Bd. Cedar-bird; Cedar Wax wing ; "Ce- 

 dar-lark." 



Kesident all the year round, and abundant, particularly in the fall. 

 These birds are highly gregarious, being almost always seen in com- 

 pact flocks. They breed the latest of all our summer residents, being 



Fig. 24. — Head of Cedar-bird, nat. size. 



observed to flock as late as the first week in June. They are less fre- 

 quently observed during the breeding than at other seasons. In the 

 fall, when they grow very fat, they are frequently offered for sale in the 

 markets. , [167] 



