404 ] BIRDSOFOREGON 



THE DUSKY HORNED LARK is one of the most abundant birds of the sage- 

 brush sections of the State. In spring and summer scattered individuals 

 and pairs are to be found everywhere, and in fall and winter huge winter- 

 ing flocks comprised largely of this form are often the only living things 

 to be seen in miles of travel. Its habits and behavior are the same as 

 other races previously discussed. Like all of its relatives, it nests early. 

 Our dates for nests and eggs extend from April 3 to June 2.0. Two and 

 possibly three broods are regularly raised in the lower altitudes, and two 

 are frequently hatched in the higher plateaus. 



Bendire's (1877) records of Horned Larks in the vicinity of Camp 

 Harney undoubtedly are referable to this form, although this subspecies 

 was not recognized until 1890 when Dwight described it, giving Fort 

 Klamath as the type locality. 



Swallows: Family Hirundinidae 



Violet-green Swallow: 



Tachycineta thalassina lefida Mearns 



DESCRIPTION. "Adult male: Top of head parrot green; nape with a narrow purple 

 collar; back bottle green, glossed with violet in some lights; rump and upper tail 

 coverts violet, shaded with purple; wing and tail quills black, glossed with indigo; 

 wing coverts violet, edged with green; rump with white patches on sides almost 

 confluent in life; under parts white. Adult female: similar, but smaller and duller. 

 Young: like those of btcolor, but feathers of under parts grayish beneath the surface, 

 and bill smaller [Plate 71, A]. Length: 5.30, wing 4.65, tail 1.97, bill .2.6." (Bailey) 

 Nest: In cliffs, hollow trees, or bird houses, lined with straw and feathers. Eggs: 

 4 or 5, white. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from central Alaska, Yukon, and central Alberta 

 south to Lower California and Mexico. Winters in Mexico and Central America. 

 In Oregon: Abundant breeding species throughout State. 



AUDUBON (1838) said that the Violet-green Swallow bred along the 

 "Wahlamet" (Willamette) River, and Nuttall (1840) made the same 

 statement. Bendire (1877), Johnson (1880), and Merrill (1888) found it 

 to be common in the territories worked by them. At present it is found 

 throughout the State records for every county being available to us 

 and can be considered common not only in the settled sections but in 

 many mountainous districts. It is one of our most abundant dooryard 

 birds and builds its untidy nest of feathers and straw in bird houses 

 (Plate 71, B) and in crannies about outbuildings, as well as in holes in 

 trees and fence posts and crevices in rocky cliffs. Together with the 

 bluebirds, it usually occupies bird boxes about city homes and parks, 

 taking the place the Purple Martin occupies in many of the Eastern States. 



