1853. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



445 



migratory feathered tribes. We may suppose 

 that the Cliff Swallows enter the northern part of 

 the union from this quarter. They have been for 

 some years generally known in Nova Scotia and 

 in Labrador — hence, by some persons, they have 

 been called the Labrador Swallow. 



The discovery of the seventh species of our swal- 

 lows was made on the 20th of October, in the 

 year 1819, by Mr. Audubon, as he was walking 

 along the shores of a forest margined lake, a few 

 miles from Bayou Sara, in pursuit of some Ibises. 

 But very little is known as yet of this bird by or- 

 nithologists. Mr. Audubon has named it the 

 Rough- Winged Swallow, and has given us a col- 

 ored plate of it in his Birds of America. They 

 so much resemble the Bank Swallow, that a care- 

 less observer would not notice the distinction. — 

 Mr. Audubon supposes, that its most habitual 

 residence will be found to be in the valleys of the 

 Columbia River. The eighth and last species of 

 our swallows whose first appearance we shall no- 

 tice, is a most beautiful little bird, judging from 

 the figure given it by Mr. Audubon, for as yet 

 we have not seen a specimen. It is called by 

 him the Violet Green Swallow, and he speaks of 

 its first discovery as follows : — 



"Of this, the most beautiful swallow hitherto 

 discovered within the limits of the United States, 

 the foUowhig account has been transmitted to me, 

 by my friend Mr. Nuttall. 



" 'We first met with this elegant species, within 

 the table-land of the Rocky Mountains, and they 

 were particularly abundant around our encamp- 

 ment on Harris Fork, a branch of the Colorado|of 

 the West." ' In this account of the first notice of 

 this swallow we have no dates but we find in an 

 exploring. tour beyond the Rocky Mountains, per- 

 formed by the Rev. Samuel Parker, in the year 

 183G, when in the Oregon Territory, he made this 

 record in his journal. "Swallows made their ap- 

 pearance on tlie 12th of March ; and among them 

 a new species, characterized by the plumage of 

 their head and back, being a most beautiful change- 

 able green, with other parts purple and white." 



This no doubt was the little beautiful Violet 

 Green Swallow, that arrested the attention of the 

 missionary. IIow much earlier, if any, this new 

 species of swallow was seen, we do not know. — 

 It affjrds us pleasure to believe that this fine bird, 

 whose home is at present beyond the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, it having never as yet visited its eastern 

 slope, will, at some period more or less remote, 

 visit and take up its residence with us, who live 

 on the Atlantic coast. This belief we entertain, 

 from the well known and constant habit of the 

 swallow tribe of leaving the accommodations and 

 shelter affjrded by nature in the wilderness, and 

 seeking those better ones furnished by man. When 

 Fort Franklin was erected on the shores of Gseat 

 Bear Lake, in the autumn of 1825, Dr. R.ichard- 

 son says, they found many nests of swallows in the 

 ruins of a house, that had been abandoned for 

 more than ten years. In this case, these birds 

 left the Tunestone caves, where they had been ac 

 customed to breed, for the houses erected by the 

 fur company. One other reason for believing that 

 we shall yet see in Massachusetts the Violet Green 

 Swallow, arises from the fact of their usually as- 

 sociating with the Cliff Swallows, and frequently 

 occupying their deserted nests. Under these cir- 

 cumstances, they would be likely to accompany 



them to the Eastern States in their migrations. — 

 We had intended to give a short descrip- 

 tion of the several species, composing the swal- 

 low tribe, together with some facts respecting 

 their habits and particularly their migrations, as 

 we have observed them for many years ; but we 

 notice that our communication already exceeds 

 your limits. With your own desire, and that of 

 some of your readers, to know more of the histo- 

 ry of our swallows, and with your permission, I 

 will conclude what I have to communicate upon 

 the character and habits of our Hirundos in my 

 next article. s. p. f. 



Danvcrsport, Sept. 3, 1853. 



ROCKINGHAM CATTIiE SHOW AND 

 FAIR. 



For some twentjT years, no Cattle Show has been 

 held in Rockingham County, the old Agricultural 

 Society having died about so long ago. The new 

 society, organized within a year, appointed for its 

 first exhibition, Thursday, the 15th of September, 

 at Exeter; liberal preparations were made for the 

 occasion, although there were many, we under- 

 stand, who echoed the ill-omened cry, that it could 

 not succeed. 



The day came, and with it a storm from the 

 South, such as is only introduced on occasions ex- 

 traordinary. It seemed as if the windows of Heav- 

 en were opened anew, as in the days of the first 

 navigator of whom the good book speaks. As one 

 gentleman said, it was a storm of some character, 

 and everybody understood that it meant very de- 

 cidedly, that nq, Cattle Show should be held on that 

 day. Forty cattle had already arrived, and a small 

 supply of articles for the hall exhibition. 



After mutually criticising each other's long 

 faces, and wondering what good designs of Provi- 

 dence could lie concealed under so manifestly a 

 wet blanket, the officers of the society decided to 

 adjourn the show till Friday, hoping better times, 

 though sorely distrustful. 



Friday came, bringing a fair west wind, and 

 clear sunlight over the green and beautiful lawns 

 and trees of old Exeter, and it was manifest at 

 once, that the power which guides the storm had 

 not visited the enterprise in anger. 



At about seven o'clock the noise of prepara- 

 tion commenced ; Marshals on prancing steeds 

 were seen hurrying through the streets, the low- 

 ing of cattle, the bleating of sheep, the rattle of 

 wheels sent up a confused sound. At eight, the 

 Brentwood band, in an open carriage drawn by 

 four elegant horses, made its appearance, and the 

 performances of the day began. 



THE HEAMPTOX-FALLS TE.\M. 



The grand entry of the Hampton-Falls delega- 

 tion of members, with ladies, was a beautiul open- 

 ing of the display. The band led by the marshal, 

 went out to meet them a mile from the village, and 

 escorted them into the town. Twenty yoke of 



