BIRDS OF INDIANA. 991 



burg, Mich., April 26, 1888, May 1, 1889; Chicago, 111., March 31, 

 1885, May 5, 1896. The males often arrive first and are followed later 

 by the females. 



Mating begins earty in April, or at once upon arrival, if they are 

 late. In 1896, Prof. W. P. Shannon noted that they began to build 

 at Greensburg April 25. May 9 the nest was completed and the first 

 egg was laid. Evidently an egg was deposited each day, for on May 

 13 the nest contained four eggs, and the bird had begun to sit. The 

 young are usually able to leave the nest toward the last of June. I 

 observed them learning to fly in 1886, from June 28 until July 9. 

 After the young are able to fly, neither the old nor young return to 

 the nesting site to roost. 



Mr. Otto Widmann tells us, as night falls they collect in colonies in 

 willow thickets, where they roost, and scatter again as the day breaks. 

 Their cheery songs are heard well into July July 21, 1897. Mr. 

 Widmann noted them singing at St. Louis, Mo., as late as August 12. 

 Their ordinary call is heard as long as they remain. They were last 

 observed, at Lafayette, August 31, 1896, and September 19, 1895; at 

 Bicknell, August 18, 1896, August 30, 1894; Vermillion County, Au- 

 gust 14, 1897; Brookville, August 31, 1883. Often they mostly dis- 

 appear late in July or early in August, and usually but few are seen 

 after the middle of the latter month. 



The Martin is a general favorite, yet it destroys many bees, tiger 

 beetles and other beneficial insects. Therefore it should eat a great 

 quantity of injurious insects to balance the destruction of those bene- 

 ficial kinds. Prof. King informs us that five ate 14 bees, 8 tiger 

 beetles, 2 butterflies, 9 breeze flies, 6 dragon flies, 3 mollusks (Geol. of 

 Wis., I., p. 24). They have also been known to capture squash beetles. 



The Purple Martin migrates from tropical America, both north and 

 south, breeding in the Argentine Eepublic as naturally as it does 

 with us. Prof. F. Sumichrast reported it a resident of the Alpine 

 region of Mexico. 



141. GENUS PETROCHELIDON CABANIS. 



*238. (612). Petrochelidon lunifrons (SAY.). 



Cliff Swallow. 

 Synonyms, EAVE SWALLOW, SQUARE-TAILED BARN SWALLOW, MUD DAUBER. 



Adult. Lustrous steel-blue; forehead, whitish or brown; rump, ru- 

 fous; chin, throat and sides of head, chestnut; a steel-blue spot on the 

 throat; breast, sides and generally a ring around the neck, rusty-gray, 

 whitening on the belly. Immature. Duller; throat, black, possibly 

 with whitish markings. 



