78 



known that it was identified in New York, New Hampshire, New Brunswick and 

 Vermont about the time the species was described by Say. Audubon noted their 

 occurrence near Newport, Ky., in 1819, but not much is known of their occurrence 

 in this State within the first half of this century. Dr. Haymond says: "These 

 swallows first built their nests in this county ;Franklin) in 1849. Previous to 

 that time they were occasionally seen as migrants." (Proc. Phila. Acad. Nat. 

 Science, 1856, p. 287.) In the southern portion of the State they prefer the up- 

 lands for building sites ; there they congregate sometimes in large colonies and 

 construct their " bottle-necked " nests beneath the eaves and upon the outside of 

 the farmer's barns and outbuildings. I have never known them to frequent the 

 towns. Along the rivers they seldom breed, apparently because of the amount of 

 sand in the clay, for which reason they are unable to construct their nests. On 

 one occasion quite a colony of these birds sought the barn of a farmer near the 

 river and began to erect their nests. When they had almost completed them they 

 crumbled and fell. Several times they tried to construct their mud homep, but as 

 often they fell when they began to dry. At last the swallows gave up in despair and 

 left in a body. 



GENUS CHELIDON FORSTBR. 

 : 226. Chelidon erythrogaster (Bodd.). BARN SWALLOW. 



\ 



Details of Structure of Barn Swallow, nat. size. 



An abundant summer resident, frequenting alike town and country. Breeds, 

 Known ,by its deeply bifurcate tail ; nests in barns and other buildings. A most 

 graceful bird, and one that is much prized by man. Usually arrives in Franklin 

 County, April 10-15, and departs about August 20. I have known them to arrive 

 as early as March 30, and to remain until September 2. Sometimes, when the 

 temperature falls below freezing in April and early May, many of them perish from 

 cold. May 20 and 21, 1883, quite a number, together with other birds, were found 

 frozen. 



