BIRDS OF KANSAS. 509 



Stelgidopteryx serripennis (AUD.). 



BOUGH- WINGED SWALLOW. 

 PLATE XXX. 



Summer resident; quite common. Arrive about the middle 

 of April; begin laying about the middle of May; leave in bulk 

 the last of August and first of September; a few occasionally 

 remain as late as the first of October. 



B. 230. R. 158. C. 164. G. 80, 258. U. 617. 



HABITAT. United States at large (except the extreme north- 

 ern border, and in the New England States only found in Con- 

 necticut); south in winter to Guatemala; breeds throughout its 

 United States range. 



"Sp. CHAR. "Above, smoky brown; rather deeper on the head, perhaps a 

 little paler on the rump. Larger quills and tail feathers dusky brown; the sec- 

 ondaries and greater coverts sometimes lighter along their external edges. The 

 under parts (for about half the total length), from bill to and including breast, 

 with the sides of body and lining of wings, mouse gray; rather lighter along the 

 throat; the rest of under parts, including crissum, white, the latter with the shafts 

 sometimes dusky, and very rarely with dusky blotches at the ends of the longer 

 feathers. 



"Young birds differ in a tinge of reddish fulvous on the upper parts; the 

 wing coverts, secondaries and inner primaries margined more or less broadly 

 with a brighter shade of the same. The gray of the under parts is also washed 

 with this color, especially on the chin and across the breast. The hooks of the 

 edge of the wing have not yet become developed." 



Sexes alike. The following are measurements, etc., of a pair 

 in "The Goss Ornithological Collection:'* 



Stretch of 

 Length. iving. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 5.50 12.25 4.40 2.10 .40 .30 



Female... 5.20 11.50 4.05 1.95 .40 .28 



Iris dark brown; bill and claws black; legs and feet dark 

 brown. 



These birds closely resemble the Bank Swallow in habits and 

 actions, and their manner of flight and low, twittering notes are 

 very similar. They are not so local in their distribution during 

 the breeding season, as they nest together in smaller numbers 

 and often in pairs by themselves. They, however, soon after 

 assemble together in large flocks and remain a little later in the 

 season. 



