S. SERRIPENNIS : ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. 187 



nor so soft as to cave in or be unsafe from the falling 

 of loosened pebbles. Any one may be satisfied of this 

 by examining a bank where different strata are ex- 

 posed, and noting how the Swallows confine themselves 

 to such belts of soil as suit them best. At the farther 

 end of the passage-way the nest is placed — a slight 

 affair of dried grasses lined with feathers. The eggs 

 are from three to six in number. I have repeatedly 

 found the latter number. There seems to be some ir- 

 regularity in the time they are laid. I have found per- 

 fectly fresh eggs in the same nest with others contain- 

 ing well-formed embryos, and a friend informs me that 

 he has seen in one nest fresh eggs and newly-hatched 

 young. Is it possible, in such cases, that more than 

 one pair have made use of the same nest? The eggs 

 are pure white, without markings, and measure 0.68 

 to 0.73 by about 0.50. They are first laid the latter 

 part of May, with a second set later in the summer. 



ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. 



StELGIDOPTERYX SERRIPENNIS (Aud.) Bd. 



Chars. Resembling the Bank Swallow in general aspect ; no tuft 

 of feathers on tarsus ; outer web of first primary rough and ser- 

 rated, the vane being converted into a series of stiff recurved 

 hooks. Above, brownish-gray ; below, paler, whitening on the 

 belly. A little larger than the Bank Swallow. 



The Rough-wing is probably rare in New England, 

 and has only lately become known to occur there at 

 all. But it is so similar to the Bank Swallow in gen- 

 eral appearance, that it might long escape notice, were 



