504: HISTORY OF THE 



air. Their feet are weak and legs too short to make any head- 

 way walking, and they seldom, if ever, attempt to use them, ex- 

 cept as perchers. In motions and actions on the wing they are 

 much like the Purple Martin, but quicker, and flit more in their 

 sudden turns and intricate evolutions, as they sport, or chase the 

 gnats and other small insects upon which they feed. 



Their ordinary note is a twitter, and attempt at song a harsh, 

 unmusical squeak. 



Their nests are placed close together, and, when under the 

 eaves, form a continuous row. They are composed of mud, 

 tempered with saliva, as it is worked into little pellets with 

 their bills, and are lined with dry grasses, leaves and feathers. 

 When in exposed situations, are built in the shape of a gourd, 

 or retort, with entrance near the top, projecting and turning 

 downward; but under the eaves or in sheltered situations are 

 more globular, and without the long, rounded necks. Eggs four 

 to six (usually four), .77x.56; white, dotted and blotched with 

 dark reddish brown (the markings vary greatly in size, number, 

 and in distribution, usually thickest about the larger end); in 

 form, oval to ovate. 



GENUS CHELIDON FORSTEK. 



"Nostrils lateral. Tarsi short, not exceeding middle toe without its claw; the 

 upper joint covered with feathers, which extend a short distance along the inner 

 face of the tarsus. Tail very deeply forked; the lateral feathers much attenu- 

 ated, twice as long as the middle. Basal joint of middle toe free for terminal 

 fourth on outside, for half on inside. Nest partly of mud, and lined with feath- 

 ers; eggs spotted. In type, and in American species, the forehead and throat 

 rufous; a black pectoral collar; tail feathers with large light spots on inner webs. 1 ' 



Chelidon erythrogaster (BODD.). 



BARN SWALLOW. 

 PLATE XXX. 



Summer resident; common. Arrive from about the 10th to 

 last of April; begin laying about the middle of May; leave the 

 last of August to first of September. 



B. 225. R. 154. C. 159. G. 77, 255. U. 613. 



HABITAT. North America in general; south in winter into 

 South America; found breeding as far south as the City of Mex- 

 ico, but breed chiefly north of the southern United States. 



