72 inn UNDO BicoLon. 



to enter a new house if it stand a mile or more from those occupied by the colony, therefore 

 they are extremely local in their distribution. I know of localities where Martins have bred 

 for years, while they could never be induced to remain in another section which was but a mile 

 distant, although I erected houses in suitable situations. They frequently appeared there in 

 spring, but after examining the place and flying about it for a day or two, invariably returned 

 to the old locality. Although fond of any particular spot they may be easily driven from it. 

 If a few birds are shot in early spring, upon their arrival, the survivors will disappear and 

 cannot be persuaded to reinhabit the house from which they have been expelled, even after the 

 lapse of many years. Accidents occurring, which are detrimental to them although not caused 

 through the agency of man, appear to produce the same effect. Some years ago the Purple 

 Martins, which bred in many boxes in Cambridge, arrived from the south quite early, induced by 

 unusually warm weather, and took possession of their respective domiciles, but unfortunately 

 the instincts which prompted them to come north so soon were at fault, for they were scarcely 

 established in their summer houses when a prolonged cold snap came on and many of the poor 

 Martins were frozen to death in their houses. The remainder left at once and there have been 

 no birds of this kind found nesting in that section of Cambridge since. 



The Purple Martin is the only Swallow with which I am acquainted, that will readily perch 

 on trees which are covered with foliage, alighting amid the leaves after the manner of nearly all 

 the passerine birds, but they never hop from -twig to twig. The song of the Martin is loud and 

 cheerful ; in autumn, when they are more generally distributed than at other times, these clear 

 notes frequently reach the ear when the birds are almost invisible as they sail high in air with a 

 strong and graceful flight. Early in September, these birds migrate south, but do not remain in 

 Florida all winter, and not one is to be seen in the state after the first of November. 



HIKUNDO BICOLOK. 



White-bellied Swallow. 



Hintndo bicolor, VIEJLL., Ois. Am , Sept. 1, 1807, 61. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, somewhat robust. Size, not large. Upper mandible, considerably curved. Feet, small. Tail, 

 but slightly forked. ' Sternum, with the keel proportionately longer than in the preceding. Tongue, horny and 

 triangular, with the end cleft. 



COLOR. Adult in spring. Above, uniform lustrous greenish-blue, with the wings and tail brownish. Beneath, 

 including under tail coverts, pure white. Axillaries and under wing coverts, slaty, the latter mixed with white. The 

 sexes are similar, with the exception that perhaps the female is greener above. In winter the tertiaries are tipped 

 with white. 



The young males also have the tertiaries tipped with white, besides not being as bright above. 



The young females are smoky-brown above, with a tinge of greenish and a dark band across the breast. 



Nestlings of both sexes are smoky-brown above ; white beneath, with a more or less distinct band of dusky across 

 the breast; the sides are also tinged with dusky. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the uniform color above and below. Distributed throughout the United States, south into 

 Mexico. Winters in the more southern portions. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of thirty-two specimens. Length, 5-85; stretch, 12-45; wing, 4-55; tail, 2-25; bill, -35; 

 tarsus, -45. Longest specimen, 6-25; greatest extent of wings, 13-35; longest wing, 4.93; tail, 2-50; bill. -50; tarsus, 

 75. Shortest specimen, 5-10; smallest extent of wings, 12-00; shortest wing, 4-10; tail, 1-80; bill, -25;- tarsus, -40. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND ECUS. 



Nests, placed in holes of trees, bird boxes, etc. ; composed of dried grasses and lined with feathers. Varying In 

 size with the apartment in which they are placed. 



Eggs, six in number, white in color; form, from a short oval to a long, pointed oval. Dimensions, from -83 x -55 

 to -63 x -45. 



