298 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



3. M. canadensis, (Linn.,) Aud., Canada warblor. Migratory, or summer 

 resident, tVcqnent ; insectivorous. A truly insect-catching species. Audubon 

 says : " I found it breeding in the pine forest." 



51. Genus Sctophaga, (Sw., 18:27.) 



1. S. rudcilla, (Linn.,) Sw., American redstart. Migratory, common ia 

 dense woods ; insectivorous. " He is'no pensioner on the bounty of man. He 

 does not wait the accidental approach of his insect prey, but, can-ying the war 

 among them, he is seen flitting from bough to bough, or at times pursuing the 

 flying troop of insects from the top of the tallest tree, in a zigzag, hawk-like 

 manner, to the gi-ound." (Xutt.) 



52. Genus Pijranga, (Vieill., 1807.) 



1. P. rubra, (Linn.,) Vieill., scarlet tanager. Summer resident, frequent 

 in woods ; omnivorous. " Its food consists chiefly of winged insects, wasps, 

 hornets, and wild bees, as Avell as smaller kinds of beetles, and other shelly 

 tribes." He rarely risits the orchard and tastes the early and inviting, though 

 forbidden cherries." (Nutt.) 



2. P. oistiva, (Linn.,) Vieill., summer rcdbird. Summer resident, rare; 

 omnivorous. Habits very similar. Both species become more fructivorous in 

 autumn. 



XIII. FA^HLY IimUNDIXIDiE. (THE SWALLOWS.) 



53. Genus Hirundo, (Linn., 1735.) 



1. //. horrvorum, (Barton,) barn swallow. Summer resident, very abun- 

 dant ; insectivorous. " Its food consis^ts entirely of insects, some being small 

 coleoptera." (Aud.) The swallows, like the swifts, feed eutiix'ly on the 

 wing, and thus devour vast numbers of flying insects, which otherwise might 

 annoy us. 



2. H. Junifrons, (Say, 1823,) clifiF swallows. Summer resident, now become 

 frequent ; gregarious ; insectivorous. Its feeding proclivities are similar to the 

 barn swallow. This bird was unknown here until within the last twenty years. 

 Being gregarious and of a wandering habit, it has established various colonies 

 in the county within the period mentioned. Its curious, bottle-shaped mud 

 tenements may now be seen beneath the eaves of buildings in several localities. 



3. H. hicolor, (Vieill., 1807,) white-bellied swallow. Summer resident, fre- 

 quent ; insectivorous. " Like all other swallows, it feeds on the wing, unceas- 

 ingly pursuing insects of various kinds." Once the tenant of the forest, it is 

 fost ch;inging its habits, and in some parts has taken possession of martin- 

 boxes in preference to hollow trees. ' 



54. Genus Cof.ijle, (Boie, 1822.) 



1. C. riparia, (Linn.,) Boie, bank SAvallow. Summer resident, abundant, 

 gregarious, insectivorous. The bank swallow builds in holes excavated in the 

 sandy, steep banks of creeks, &c. ; hence is more frequent near watercourses, 

 aud, consequently, feeds on such insects as inhabit them. Its food, "which 

 consists of small insects, principally of the hymenopterous kind," is taken on 

 the wing. 



2. C scrripcnnis, (And.,) Bon., rough-winged swallow. Summer resident, 

 frequent ; insectivorous. Closely resembling the preceding species, and often 

 associated with it in the same community, until recently the two a^ipear to 

 have been confounded. 



bb. Genus Progne, (Boie., 1826.) 

 1. P. purpurea, (Linn.,) J3oie, purple martin. Summer resident, abundant; 

 gregarious and insectivorous. Familiarly domiciled in the martin-box, our 

 bird seems specially commissioned to rid the neighboring premises of noxious 

 insects. " The food of the martin is usually the larger winged insects, as 

 wasps, bees, large beetles, such as the common Cctonias or goldsmiths, which 

 are swallowed whole." (Nutt.) "They seldom seize the honey bee." (Aud.) 



