70 The Birds of Albany County 



County, this State, and on the same day observed a large 

 number across the river in Albany County. This is probably 

 the only known record of the Chatterer being here and it 

 may be several years before any more are seen. Garrulus 

 has been a puzzle to the ornithologists for a century, and its 

 breeding habits are even now but little known. It is a great 

 flier and is said to wander all over North America, Europe 

 and Asia. It apparently has no definite range, but is more 

 common in the Northwest and along the Rocky Mountains. 

 Why it should have been called a Chatterer I cannot imagine 

 as all authorities agree that its only note is a faint, lisping 

 sound, similar to that of its near relative, the Cedar 

 Waxwing. 



Family Hirundinidee 



Rough-winged Swallow. — Stelgidopteryx serripennis. 



5.74 



Not Uncommon Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Throat and breast brownish-gray; upper parts 

 darker; belly white. 



This bird I have observed on numerous occasions in 

 Albany County. The student will find it difficult to identify 

 while it is on the wing, but if the skin of an adult specimen 

 is examined closely it will be found that the outer primaries 

 are edged with short, spiny feathers, which to the naked eye 

 resemble the teeth of a fine saw, bent back until they look 

 like minute hooks. If one can get a good look with a glass 



