[408] BIRDSOFOREGON 



Elkton (Andrus), Corvallis, and Malheur Lake (Bendire's record men- 

 tioned above) all localities in the Willamette Valley except Elkton and 

 Malheur. Shelton (1917) found it in Lane County but stated that many 

 of the reported occurrences probably referred to the Rough-winged 

 Swallow. Willett (1919) stated that it bred at Malheur Lake, and Prill 

 (i92.2.a) also reported it as breeding in the Warner Valley. 



In the manuscript notes of the Biological Survey it has been reported 

 as breeding at Klamath Lake (J. J. Furber and L. A. Lewis), Portland 

 (Finley), Malheur Lake (V. Bailey), and Juntura (Shelton). In our own 

 experience, we have found it in recent years mostly in eastern Oregon, 

 where for many years there have been colonies at Adel (Lake County), 

 Arlington (Gilliam County), Irrigon (Morrow County), and near On- 

 tario (Malheur County). Undoubtedly there are other large colonies in 

 eastern Oregon, because often, in that part of the State particularly, 

 competent observers who publish their notes are rare, rather than the 

 birds, which may well be the case in this instance. 



The colony near Ontario has been the largest. Several hundred pairs 

 nest there in a cut above the Old Oregon Trail. On May 2.7, 1933, as we 

 were driving toward Ontario, we witnessed a curious incident in this 

 colony. A car, traveling at a high rate of speed, passed us and as it 

 roared through the swarm of birds passing to and fro over the highway 

 killed a swallow. We slowed down to pick up the bird, when a crow 

 that had been sitting in the shelter of a sage bush at the top of the bank 

 swooped down, seized the dead swallow in its beak, and flew off across 

 Snake River. We have passed the place several times since and each time 

 have noted a crow hanging about the colony, evidently retrieving the 

 birds knocked down by speeding cars. 



The colony at Adel contained full sets of eggs on May 1.6, 192.5, when 

 Jewett dug into several nests, and the Arlington group had half-grown 

 young on June 6, 192.6. We have not disturbed the nests on other occa- 

 sions, although one or the other of us has seen the birds in these various 

 colonies nearly every year since. In July 192.2., Gabrielson found a few 

 pairs nesting near Yachats, in Lincoln County, the only colony either of 

 us has noted in recent years west of the Cascades. 



Rough-winged Swallow: 



Stelgidopteryx ruficollis serripennis (Audubon) 



DESCRIPTION. "Bill small; tail short and slightly emarginate; tarsus slightly 

 feathered above; lateral claws curved and not reaching beyond the base of the middle 

 claw; outer web of outer primaries saw-toothed in male, roughened in female. Adults: 

 upper parts dull grayish brown, darker on wings and tail, tertials usually margined 

 with grayish; under parts soiled gray, belly and under tail coverts white. Young: 

 like adults, but plumage more or less washed with brown; wings with broad cinna- 

 mon tips and margins. Length: 5.00-5.75, wing 4.00-4.70, tail ~L. 05-1. 35." (Bailey) 



