120 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 
on wings and tail is jet black. Female olive green on back and 
yellow below; wings and tail slaty brown. They are summer 
residents in South Dakota, but are not plentiful. Seldom is more 
than one pair found in any grove. The song is a rather weak 
imitation of the Robin’s, but the male’s lack of musical ability 
is more than compensated for by its beauty. 
Tanagers have short, thick bills. 
FAMILY HIRUNDINIDZ. SWALLOWS 
Swallows are numerous in South Dakota, but very unob- 
trusive. Seldom can one look up into the sky without seeing a 
Swallow pass. With the exception of the Martin they are not 
singers, and they gather their food entirely upon the wing. They 
come to us late in spring, when there are insects enough to eat, 
and leave early in autumn before the supply is too much de- 
pleted. 
611. PurpLe Martin (Progne subis subis.) 
This is our largest Swallow, and the only one that sings. 
A common summer resident, nesting readily wherever Martin 
houses are erected. The house may be two or three stories high 
and of many rooms, for. these are sociable birds. The more there 
are together the better they seem to like it. 
612. CrirF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons.) 
These Swallows have brought their mud-bottle nests from 
rocky cliffs and placed them under the eaves of barns. They 
are therefore sometimes called the Eaves Swallow. Tail square, 
forehead and rump buffy. They are social birds and build in 
colonies. 
613. Barn SwaLitow (Hirundo erythrogastra.) 
Barn Swallows nest inside the barn, plastering their half- 
saucers to beam or rafter. They seem quite fearless of men 
or animals and pass in and out close to one’s head. They are 
easily identified by their iridescent plumage; chestnut forehead, 
throat and upper breast; and forked tail, 
