340 NOUTll AMEUIL'AX- lillJDS. 



hal)it, breeding there exclusively in miirtin-boxes, and rarely, if ever, nesting 

 in liollov,' trees, — a fact perliaps attrilmtalde to the scarcity of these opportu- 

 nities along the sea-coast, where this bird is princii)ally found. In Western 

 Massachusetts, Mr. Allen state's them to be not verv common and the least 

 abundant of the SwaUows. Any sheltered and accessible box, however rough 

 it may be, will answer its purpose, whether the more elaborate martin-house, 

 or a mere candle-box with an open end. Mr. Audubon has known them to 

 drive away a ]»arn Swallow from its nest, and to take possession, but this 

 was probably exceptional. In one case, two small houses U)Y birds put up in 

 the same yard were taken possession of by a single pair of Swallows, and 

 nests built in each ; only one, however, of these was made use of. Whether 

 this freak was the result of indecision or from a grasi>ing seltishness, it is 

 not possible to conclude, but a])parently the former. 



In the rural districts, even on the coast, these birds are not so abundant as 

 in the cities, as in the latter they are less annoyed by other birds. The com- 

 mon liobin is often especiallv a«»«:ressive, seeking" to drive them off his as- 

 sunied premises. In one instance the Robin has been known to station him- 

 self on a platform in front of its ne>i for hours, and persistently refuse to 

 permit its visits. Assistance was sought, and all the Swallows in the neigh- 

 borluHjd came to the rescue. Tliev sailed with angry cries over the head of 

 the olfender, at times darting down u])on him as if to strike at him, but 

 accomplishinn" n(Uhin<j. The besieuer maintained his i»round until the writer 

 intervened and drove him away, when the Swallows once more took posses- 

 sion, and fed their hungry nestlings in ])eace. 



This species breeds from about latitude o.S° to the extreme northern regions, 

 and alonu the Arctic seas, wherever lacilities for nesting are found, liichard- 

 son found them breeding in hollow trees on the Mackenzie Kiver, in latitude 

 63°. Evervwhere on both coasts thev are verv jomnion, but are less numer- 

 ous in the interior. Mr. Dall found it in Alaska from Fort Yukon to the sea. 

 It was known to tlie IJussians as the IJiver Swallow. It was also met with 

 in Sitka, by lUschoif. It lias not l>een observed in (Ireenland. 



During the breeding-season this sjuhmcs is more (piarrelsome than any of 

 its kindred, and is often more than a match for larger birds. Coming earlier 

 in the season than the rur]»le ]\Iartin, it will often intrude itself into its 

 premises and maintain possession. Tliey are devotedly attached to their off- 

 si»ring, and bewail any accidents to them or any threatened peril. The same 

 pair will return year after year to the same premises, and they soon become 

 on familiar terms with the meml)ers of a family they frequently meet, so 

 much so as to watcli, when tlicv have received materials for their nests, for a 

 further su])ply, and will fly close to the ])erson from whom they receive them. 

 A ])air which had tiius, year after year, received suj)plies of feathers for their 

 nests from the younger mcr, 'rrs of the family in wliose yard their nest was 

 built, would almost take ti ■ n Voni th<! hands of their providers. This pair 

 sat so close as to permit theiuselves to be taken from their nest, and when 



