191 



Giraud gives the following: 1 "Early in the spring swallows are 

 sometimes so benumbed as to be almost in a lifeless state. This is 

 readily accounted for by the cold storms that set in after their arrival, 

 which also cut off their insect food at such times they have been 

 found so much exhausted as to be unable to rise, and in some in- 

 stances have been observed lying dead about the fields." This ac- 

 count brings to mind a circumstance related to me by my father: 

 Many years ago, during a severely unseasonable storm in the spring, 

 numbers of Swallows perished in this region, either through cold or 

 starvation, and were found lying dead upon the barn floors in rows. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of eighteen specimens : length, 

 6-95; stretch, 12-85; wing, 4 67; tail, 3-30; bill from nostril, -24; gape, 

 58 ; tarsus, -45 ; middle toe, -46 ; its claw, -21. 



54. Tachycineta bicolor, (Vieillot*). WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW. 

 A summer resident; breeds; abundant during its migrations. Arrives 

 early in April (May 2, 1874; April 30, 1875; 21, 1876, 17, de Nottbeck, 

 at Fishkill ; 25, 1877 [shot at Fairfleld, Connecticut, on the 7th] ; 20, 

 1878; 22, 1879), remaining till autumn. It breeds in holes, in trees 

 standing in the water, at the borders of ponds and streams. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of fifteen specimens : length, 

 5-90; stretch, 12-66; wing, 4-70; tail, 2-35; bill from nostril, -22; tar- 

 sus, -45. 



55. Petrochelidon lunifrons, (Say). EAVE SWALLOW; CLIFF 

 SWALLOW. A common summer resident; breeds. Arrives in April 

 (May 22, 1874; April 30, 1875; May 2, 1876; 21, 1877; 9, 1878; April 16, 

 1879), and spends the summer, departing in September (10, 1876). 



This bird of remarkable history breeds in large colonies. It com- 

 mences nidification early in June. It formerly nested in large commu- 

 nities upon the stone buildings of the West Point Military Academy. 



Giraud gives the following account (''The Birds of Long Island," 

 p. 38, 1844) of this species: "The appearance of this Swallow in the 

 lower parts of the State of New York is quite recent. The first that 

 I have known to have been observed in this vicinity, was shot at Man- 

 hattanville, in 1842, by Mr. Lawrence. In the month of June of the 

 present year, a few specimens were seen in the suburbs of Brooklyn 

 by Mr. Brasher, and in the latter part of August I met it at Gravesend. 

 Previous to this year, I have no knowledge of its occurring on Long 

 Island; but I should not be surprised if even in a few years it were 

 found quite common. On Long Island I am not aware that the Cliff 

 Swallow has been known to breed ; but Mr. Bell has informed me that 

 he -found its nest near his residence in Rockland County, in the month 

 of May last and according to his observations, it had not visited his 

 section previous to the present year." 



i Birds of Long Island, p. 36. 1844. 



