362 HIRUNDINID^E. 



whole of North America, especially in the interior, breeding 

 from very high latitudes to Florida, and from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific. It seems to he of rare occurrence in Newfoundland 

 (Zool. s.s. p. 1741) and was not recognized as occurring in 

 the Bermudas until September 22nd, 1849, when a large 

 flight of Swifts and Swallows including many of this species 

 suddenly appeared in those islands (Contrib. Orn. 1850, p. 

 35).* It arrives at New Orleans from the south in the be- 

 ginning of February and gradually continues its way north- 

 wards, reaching the Arctic Circle about the middle of May. 

 Its departure takes place early. The limits of its range in 

 winter have not been determined. It is known to arrive at 

 that season in Mexico and Lower California, and Mr. Sclater 

 says (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 606) that it reaches the Rio 

 Negro on the border of Patagonia, where Mr. Darwin and Mr. 

 Hudson (loc. cit.) observed it breeding in great numbers.! 



Interesting accounts of the habits of this species, which 

 in Canada and the United States is everywhere a welcome 

 guest, are given by Wilson, Audubon, Nuttall and other 

 American ornithologists, but its very slight claim to be 

 counted a " British Bird " lessens the need of entering upon 

 them at any length. Naturally breeding in hollow trees, 

 often in the deserted holes of Woodpeckers, it readily takes 

 to the accommodation provided for it by those who wish to 

 encourage it about their home, and " Martin-boxes", made 

 expressly for the purpose, are therefore very generally set up 

 in gardens, and near houses. The nest consists of a loose 

 gathering of twigs, leaves and grass, intermixed with shreds 

 of cloth, or any material the bird may chance to find, and 

 is lined with feathers or other soft substances. The eggs, 

 from four to six in number, are white and measure from '99 

 to -93 by from *85 to '65. Several pairs will breed in the 

 same box, and they generally rear two broods in a season. 



any satisfactory corroboration of other asserted instances of the occurrence of 

 the species in Britain. 



* It seems not to have appeared there since (Zool. 1877, p. 407). 



f Several ornithologists, however, consider the South-American birds to be 

 specifically distinct, in which case those observed by the two naturalists just 

 named are the Progne elegans of Prof. Baird. 



