SWALLOWS 



457 



most I have noticed in one building is ten pair, while more 

 often only one or at most two or three pair are found to- 

 gether. Nearly every good sized country barn whose interior 

 is readily accessible is occupied by these birds, and they may 

 be sought in such localities practically throughout the State. 

 They do not seem to frequent or build in city barns. 



I found a couple of pair nesting in an unoccupied hut on 

 Seal Island in July, 1893, and saw what was most certainly a 

 nest of this species there another year attached to the side 

 and on the shelf of a steep, rocky face of a low cliff. Near 

 San Diego, California, on April 23, 1892, I found this species 

 nesting generally in the roofs of caves along the ocean side of 

 Point Loma, so that the Seal Island instance for Maine is not 

 exceptional. 



Eggs may be found from about June fifth up to July first, 

 mid June being about the right date here. Both birds help 

 to build the nest, incubate and feed the young. Though I can 

 offer nothing definite as to time of incubation, the young 

 remaining in the nest, etc., yet general observation would 

 indicate that the period does not differ from that of the Cliff 

 Swallow. 



The song of this species as it flies contentedly about the 

 barn yard and sails over the water or fields or high in air is a 

 peculiar wiry, yet lullaby-like twitter, hard to describe but 

 readily recognized. When their home is in danger they swoop 

 down at the intruder, uttering loud, angry calls of two or three 

 notes. Their food consists of insects taken on the wing and 

 is practically identical in every way with that of the Cliff 

 Swallow. The general habit of congregating on the barns 

 and along the highways on telegraph wires in late summer is 

 followed by this species. 



The eggs are three to six, usually four in number. They 

 are white, spotted with cinnamon, olive or rufous brown and 

 occasionally with lilac or lavender in clouded spots. The 

 spots or blotches on some eggs are more numerous or wreathed 



