BIRDS OF THE AIR. 167 



shape ; the body of it is plastered to the wood ; the en- 

 trance is the neck, slightly covered for protection from 

 rain. They are made of clay and mud without intermix- 

 ture of other substances. They are lined with grass and 

 feathers. 



This species was at the early settlement of the country 

 so rare, in this part of the continent, that it escaped the 

 notice of some of the earliest observers of the habits of 

 our birds. It was not known even to Alexander Wilson. 

 It seems to have been observed and described in Maine 

 before it was well known in any of the other States. Dr. 

 Brewer says of this species : " I first observed a large col- 

 ony of them in Attleborough (Mass.) in 1842. Its size 

 indicated the existence of these birds in that place for 

 several years. The same year they also appeared in Bos- 

 ton, Hiiigham, and in other places in the neighborhood." 

 The notes of this Swallow are not so agreeable as those 

 of the Barn-Swallow and other species. 



THE WOOD-SWALLOW. 



The White-bellied Swallow is known in the British 

 Provinces by the name of " Wood-Swallow." This will be 

 regarded a very appropriate designation, when we consider 

 the continuance of the primitive habits of this bird of 

 building in hollow trees. Samuels has seen great num- 

 bers of the nests of this species in the woods of Maine, 

 near the northern lakes, built in hollow trees, some of 

 them standing in water. In an area of about ten rods he 

 counted fifty nests. He says this species is the most 

 common of the Swallows in that region. The nests are 

 formed entirely of grass and feathers without any mud, 

 for which there is no necessity. The eggs are pure 

 white. 



This species has superseded the Purple Martin in many 



