SWALLOWS 449 



Only once has this species occurred in Maine to our 

 knowledge, and Mr, Boardman also once took a specimen in New 

 Brunswick. It is a species of rather open mixed woods having 

 an undergrowth of oaks and is not rare in the more southern 

 States. I have never seen the species in life. Chapman describes 

 its cry as " chicky-tucky-tuck " and states that its song is simi- 

 lar to that of the Scarlet Tanager, but sweeter and less forced. 



The^ nest and eggs are very similar and similarly situated to 

 those of the Scarlet Tanager. Four eggs sent me from Ander- 

 son, South Carolina, were said to have been taken from a nest 

 composed of weeds, grass and vines, lined with fine yellow 

 grass. The eggs are bluish green, spotted and dotted with 

 brownish purple and dark brown or rufous. The spots are 

 generally most numerous about the larger end and often 

 wreathed. My South Carolina set measure 0.96 x 0.69, 0.99 x 

 0.68, 0.95 X 0.64, 0.90 x 0.64. Three to five, usually four is 

 the number laid. The food is said to consist of various 

 insects, seeds, fruits and berries, and is probably very similar 

 to that of the Scarlet Tanager. 



Family HIRUNDINID^. Swallows. 



Key to the species of HIRUNDINID^. 



A. Under parts pure white, unmarred by bands or markings. Tree 



Swallow. 



B. Under parts only partly white or with no white at all. 



1. Under parts entirely steel blue. Purple Martin (male). 



2. Under parts not entirely steel blue, various mixtures of white, 



gray or other dull colors. 

 §. Upper parts without metallic reflections; brownish ;gray band 

 across breast ; throat and belly white. Bank Swallow. 

 §§. Upper parts with metallic reflections. 



?. Throat and breast gray with brownish tinge. Purple Martin 



(female). 

 ??. Throat and breast not both gray. 



a'. A rufous or buffy patch on rump or upper tail coverts 



rufous or buffy. Cliff Swallow, 

 a^. No rufous or buff on rump or upper tail coverts, these 

 portions same color as back. Barn Swallow. 



