THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 253 



614 Iridoprocne bicolor (Vieillot). 

 Tree Swallow, White-bellied Swallow. 



PLATE 67. 



Adults. Length, 5-6. Wing, 4.75. Above, bright glossy greenish steel-blue ; 

 lores, black ; under surface, pure white. In autumn the tertials are broadly 

 tipped with white. 



Young in first summer. Above, mouse-gray, tertials tipped with brownish- 

 white ; below, white, often with a shade of gray across the breast. 



"Nest in holes in trees, often 'old Woodpeckers' holes, made of grass and 

 feathers ; eggs, four to six, white, .75 x .50. 



Common transient visitant, and summer resident in the pine bar- 

 rens, and of occasional occurrence in winter. Arrives April 8th 

 (April 22d), departs October 15th. 



The Tree Swallows are seen at their best along the seacoast during 

 August and September, 1 when they collect by thousands, circling 

 about over the marshes, and now and then resting on the telegraph 

 wires, where they sit close together, lining the wires as far as the eye 

 can reach, or settling down on bayberry bushes to feed on the waxy- 

 covered fruit. This, as far as I am aware, is the only departure from 

 an insectivorous diet on the part of our Swallows. Mr. Chapman 2 

 says that they occur on the Hackensack marshes, July 20th to October 

 20th, roosting in the cat-tails. At Cape May Mr. Hand tells me they 

 often roost in shade trees, and on September 16th, 1903, were nearly 

 drowned out, some six thousand drenched birds being down on the 

 ground, temporarily unable to fly. 



Through the pine barrens, along the larger rivers and about swampy 

 ponds the Tree Swallow nests regularly, preferring the half-rotten 

 trees that grow in the water, but there seems to be no breeding record 

 for the northern half of the State, the most northern record being Mr. 

 Bab son's 3 mention of three pairs nesting on Millstone Creek, near 

 Princeton, June 16th, 1900, and again the following year. 



In Cape May county Mr. H. Walker Hand informs me he has seen 

 them some years all winter, especially about Lilly Lake, Cape May 

 Point. 4 



1 Cf. Childs, Auk, 1900, p. 67. 



2 Birds Vicinity of N. Y., p. 175. 



3 Birds of Princeton, p. 68. 



4 Cf. also Cassinia, 1904, p. 68. 



