33t) THE BANK SVVAI. LOW. 



prntcclion of sonic sturdy (ir roots Ix-low grouml, lirouglit off a bn^otl on 

 Kifiy fifth Street, near my home. 



L'lilike the Hank Swallows, the Koiigli-wings <lo not coloni/.e to any great 

 extent, but are rather soHtary. Favorable conditions may attract several pairs 

 to a given s]K»t, as a gravel pit, but when together they are little gi\en to 

 community functions. 



These Swallows are pretty evenly ilistributed thrnout liie length ami 

 breadth of the State, save thai they do not venture into high altitudes. Since 

 they are .so catholic in taste, it w<n\ld seem that they are destined to llourish. 

 They are ]M)ssibly now to be considered, after the ClilT Swallow, the most nu- 

 merous s|)ecies. I found them regularly along the west Olympic Coast in the 

 summer of 1906: and, with Mr. Ivlson. of Bellingham. in Jiuie, i<>03. found 

 a single |)air nesting in characteristic isolation on Rare Island, o(T Waldnm. 



I'urther than this, the bird under consideration resembles the other binl 

 (|uite closely in notes, in habits, and in general appearance, and refpiires sharp 

 distinction in accordance witii the suggestions given alK)ve umler "Recognition 

 .Marks." 



No. 129. 



BANK S\\ Allow . 



A. n. V. No. 6ifi. Riparia riparia (I.iini). 



Synonym. — Sand Makiin. 



Description. — -.Idiilt: l^|)pcr]iarts plain, brownish gray; wings iuscous; 

 throat ami helK white; a brownisli gray band across the breast; a tiny tuft of 

 feathers above the hind toe. There is some variation in the extent of the pectoral 

 baixl : it is sometimes produced indistinctly backward, and sometimes even inter- 

 rupted. Length 5.00-3.25 ( 127-133.3): wing 3.(15 (100.3); tail i.<»7 (501; bill 

 from nostril .20 (5.1). 



Recognition Marks.— Smallest of the Swallow;; throat white: brownish 

 gray pectriral band on while grf>nnd. 



Nesting.^.Vr.?/. at end of tunnels in banks, two or three feet in ; a frail 

 mat of straws and grasses and occasionally feathers. Breeds usually in colonies. 

 Egf/s. 4-fi. sometimes 7, pure white. Av. size. .70 x .40 (17.SX 12.5). St'iisou: 

 June : f>ne brood. 



General Range. — Xorthern HemispluTe: in America south to West Indies. 

 Central .America, and northern South America: breeding from the middle dis- 

 tricts f>f the I'nitcd States northward to about the limit of trees. 



Range in Washington. — Summer resident : not common. .\ few large 

 colonic- arc known east of the Cascades; westerly they are rare or wanting. 



Migrations. Sf<riii(/: May 11. I ."^/"i, Chelan. 



