270 COTYLE RIPARIA — THE BANK SWALLOW. 



shows considerable foresight, as, if the frail tenement was 

 hurried up too rapidly, it would come down of its own 

 weight. These nests begin to be built about the end of 

 April, and the young are abroad by the end of July. 



The species is easily distinguished from the rest of its 

 allies by the difference in color. The back and crown of 

 the head are steel blue ; sides of the head, the chin and 

 throat chestnut; a crescent shaped, whitish mark extending 

 over the forehead; breast rusty; belly white; rump light 

 chestnut; a spot of black, with steel blue reflections, on 

 the throat; tail and wing black, tail slightly emarginate; 

 bill short; sexes and young nearly alike. 



Total length 5 to 5^ inches. 



Genus Cotye, Boie. 



Bill very flat, extremely broad at the base, and gradually 

 narrowed towards the tip- Nostrils prominent and rounded. 

 Tail moderate, nearly straight, or somewhat emarginated. 

 Tarsi rather shorter than the middle toe, slender and scutel- 

 lated. Toes very slender, the claws slightly curved. Colors 

 generally dull brown above, without gloss. 



There are two species of this genus in the United States, 

 and both are found in Ohio. They differ from every other 

 native species of this family in their habits of nesting and 

 dull colors. All the species are much alike in color and 

 markings, and are often confounded under the common 

 name of Bank Swallow. 



OoTYLE RiPARiA, Boie. — Bank Swallow. 



Hirundo Riparia, Linnaeus. — Wilson and Audubon. 



Considered by naturalists as identical with the European 

 bird of the same name, the closest examination and com- 



