iio THE CLIFF S\\ Al.lJ Af. 



consumed, hut Ik-cs, wasps, dragon llics, and some ui tlic larger predatory 

 beetles as well. 



The birds mate suun after arrival, and fur a Imme they select some 

 crevice or hidey-hole aljout a building. A cavity left Ijy a missing brick is 

 sufiicicnt, or a station on the eave-|)late of a warehouse. Old nests are 

 renovated and new materials are brought in, straw, string, and trash for the 

 bulk of the nest, and abundant fealliers for lining. Sometimes tlie binls 

 e.xhibit whimsical tastes. Mr. vS. F. Kathbun of Seattle found a nest which 

 was composed entirely of wood shavings mi.xed with string ami fragments of 

 tlie woven siieatii which covers electric light wires. 



The nest is not often occui)ied till June, wlien llie birds may Ik* most 

 certain of (hiding food for their ot1si)ring: and the rearing of a single Ijrood 

 is a season's work. Five eggs are almost invariably the nmnber lai<l, and they 

 are of a pure white color, the shell being very little glossed and of a coarser 

 grain than is the case with eggs of the other Swallows. 



l'ur|)le Martins arc very sociable birds, and a voluble How of small talk 

 is kept up by them dining the nesting season. The song, if such it may be 

 called, is a succession of pleasant warblings an<l gurglings, interspersed with 

 harsh rubbing an<l cre.tking notes. A particularly mellow coo, coo, coo, 

 recurs from time to time, and any of the notes seem t<t require consi<lerable 

 elTort on tiie part of the performer. 



it will prove to be a sad day for the Marlins when tlie luiglisii Sparrows 

 take full possession of our cities. The Martins are not deficient in courage, 

 but they cannot enilure the presence of the detested foreigners. The Sparrows 

 are filthy creatures, and it may Ije that the bunlen of the vermin, which 

 they invariably introduce to their haunts, bears more heavily upon the skins 

 of our more delicately constituted citizens than upon their own swinish hides. 



No. 127. 



CIlFl S\\ Allow. 



A. O. v. No. ()i2. Petrochelidon lunifrons (Say). 



Synonyms. — Eavk Sw.m.i.ow. Ri;ri isi.ii nn Sw.vllow. 



Description. — Adult: .\ prominent whitish crescent on forehead: crown 

 hack, ami an oitscnre jiatch on breast stcel-bhic : throat, sides f>f head, and nape 

 ileep chestnut; breast, sides, and a cervical collar hrown-gray ; belly white or 

 whitish; wings and tail blackish; rump jiale rufous. — the color reaching anuiml 

 on flanks; iindrr lail-coverts tlusky. /« youiMj birds the frontlet is obscure or 

 wanting; the plumage dull brown alnive. and the throat blackish with white s|>c'cks. 

 I'.ill ami feet weak, the former suddenly compressed at tip. Length 3.00-6.00 

 t 127-152.4) ; wing 4. .^5 ( 1 10.5) ; tail 2.00 ( 50.8* ; bill from nostril .22 i 3.6). 



