THE BIRD BOOK 



They naturally nest in holes in trees or stumps, preferable 



in the vicinity of water, but large numbers now take up 



their abode in houses provided for them 



by man, providing that English Sparrows 



are kept away. They make their nests of 



straws and grasses, lined with feathers, 



and lay four to six plain white eggs; 



size .75 x .50. Data. Portage, Mich., 



May 26, 1897. Nest in a gate post; hole 



about 6 inches deep, lined with feathers. 



6 15. NORTHERN VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. Tachyci- 

 neta thalassina lepida. 



Range. United States in the Rocky Mountains and west 

 to the Pacific coast, breeding from Mexico to British Co- 

 lumbia; winters south of our borders. 



This very beautiful species is smaller than the last, but, 

 like it, is white below, but the upper parts 

 are blue, green and purple without gloss. ^7*^- ~.^ 

 They are common in their range and /%. 

 nest, usually in holes in trees, less often 

 in banks and under eaves; the nests are 

 made of grass and feathers, and the eggs 

 are pure white, four or five in number; 

 615 616 size .72 x .50. 



White 



6'1 5a. SAN LUCAS SWALLOW. Tachycineta thalassina brachyptera. 



Range. Southern Lower California. Practically the same bird as the last 

 but with the wing very slightly shorter. Nesting habits or eggs will not differ. 



[615.1.] BAHAMAN SWALLOW. Callichelidon cyaneoviridis. 



Range. Bahamas; casual at Dry Tortugas, Florida. 



This very beautiful species is similar to the western Violet-green Swallow, as 

 are also its eggs. 



6l6. BANK SWALLOW. Riparia riparia. 



Range. Whole of North America, north to the limit of trees, breeding from 

 the middle portions of the United States northward; winters south of our 

 borders. 



This dull-colored Swallow is grayish above and white below, 

 with a gray band across the breast, they breed in holes in em- 

 bankments, digging small tunnels from one to three feet in 

 ^4'* length, enlarged and lined at the end with grass and feathers. 

 During May, June or July, according to latitude, they lay from 

 White four to six pure white eggs; size .70 x .50. 



ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. Stelgidopteryx serripennis. 



61 



Range. United States, breeding from Mexico north to southern New England, 

 Manitoba and British Columbia; winters south of our borders. 



This species is slightly larger than the last and similar but 

 with the throat and breast grayish and with the outer web of 

 the outer primary provided with recurved hooks. They nest in 

 holes in embankments, in crevices in cliffs or among stones 

 of bridges or buildings. Their eggs are like those of the 



Bank Swallow but average a trifle larger; size .75 x .52. 



374 



White 



