Birds of Indiana. 993 



driven off by English Sparrows (A. H. Kendrick, Ellsworth, 1897). 

 Xot so common as formerly; has been driven off by English Sparrows 

 (Wabash, Ulrey and Wallace). 



The impression once held was that these birds had bnt recently 

 extended their range to the eastern United States. It is known, how- 

 ever, that they were found in New York, New Hampshire, New Bruns- 

 wick and Vermont about the time the species was described by Say. 

 In 1819 Audubon noted them at Newport, Ky. Information concern- 

 ing their occurrence in this State prior to 1850 is almost wanting. 

 Dr. Haymond says: "These Swallows first built their nests in this 

 county (Franklin) in 1849. Previous to that time they were occasion- 

 ally seen as migrants'' (Proc. Phila. Acad. Sci., 1856, p. 287). In 

 the early days when they built about cliffs they were unknown, save 

 during migration, away from the vicinity of such places. Their ex- 

 tension over the State, and over the country generally, came with the 

 provision by man of suitable nesting sites. 



Mr. Geo. L. Toppan informs me that he found two nests among a 

 colony of these birds, each of which was of the usual gourd shape, and 

 contained an egg of the Cowbird. It seems impossible that these in- 

 trusive eggs could be deposited in such nests except the parent Cow- 

 bird placed them there with her bill. 



The Cliff Swallow some years arrives by April 10; others, is nearly 

 a month later. Early and late dates of first arrival -are: Brookville, 

 April 12, 1881, April 26, 1897; Bloomington, April 18, 1884, May 2, 

 1893; Hanover, April 10, 1897, April 24, 1896; Delphi, April 7, 1894; 

 V^igo County, April 15, 1896, April 26, 1897; Dekalb County, April 

 10, 1897, May 4, 1890; Michigan City, April 12, 1890; Petersburg, 

 Mich., April 26, 1889; Chicago, 111., April 13, 1886, May 9, 1897. 

 Sometimes not only the early arrivals, but late ones as well, perish 

 from severe weather. During the very unseasonable weather of May 

 20 and 21, 1883, many died. After breeding they leave the vicinity 

 of our homes, but later in the season, generally in August, are seen 

 again as they make their way southward. The latest fall dates at hand 

 are: Bicknell, August 25. 1896, September 5, 1894; Franklin County, 

 September 3, 1897; Sedan. October 5, 1887. They feed upon- insects, 

 among which have been identified ichneumon flies, flies, leap-hoppers, 

 beetles, bugs, ants, wasps and grasshoppers. 



68— Geol. 



