74 HIIIUXDO HOBEEOBVM. 



Young female, very pale beneath, becoming yellowish-white on those parts which are chestnut-brown on the 

 adult. 



Nestlings of both seres are much duller above, Lave the frontal band narrower and are very pale beneath in 

 comparison with the adult, but some female specimens are as deeply colored as The year-old birds of the same sex. 

 In this stage, the throat and upper portion of the breast are frequently uniform with the other portions beneath. The 

 outer tail feathers are not as elongated nor as narrow at the tips ; these feathers being acquired after the tirst moult. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Easily distinguished from all other North American Swallows by the elongated tail feathers. The intensity of 

 color beneath is extremely variable; one adult male now before me, which was taken at Ipswich, in summer, is so 

 exceedingly rich in color on these portions tliat the lower breast, abdomen, etc., are nearly as dark as the throat and 

 tipper breast. This specimen has also concealed spots of chestnut on the feathers of the nape, back and scapularies; 

 indications of these spots occasionally appear on other specimens, but not to the extent seen in this finely colored 

 bird. The blue band across the breast is also quite changeable ; it is nearly always indicated in tlie adult, but 

 sometimes it is very plainly marked. One adult male taken at Ipswich has a band three-fourths of an inch wide, 

 starting on either side, dividing in the middle of the breast and enclosing a spot of chestnut which contains some 

 blue feathers. Distributed during the breeding season throughout the United States and Canada, wintering in the 

 West Indies and Central America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of fourteen specimens. Length, 6-89; stretch, 12-98; wing, 4-85; tail, 2-75; bill, '45; 

 tarsus, -45. Longest specimen, 7-60; greatest extent of wings, 13-00; longest wing, 4-85; tail, 3-19; bill, -55; tarsus, 

 4:8. Shortest specimen, 6-35; smallest extent of wings, 4-66; shortest wing, 4-50; tail, 2-15; bill, -40; tarsus, -35. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, fastened against beams, etc., in barns and out-buildings; composed of mud mixed with grasses and lined 

 with fine grasses and feathers. Dimensions: external diameter, 5 inches, internal, 3; external depth, 2-50 inches, 

 internal, 1-50. 



Eygs, five or six in number, Ion g-oval in form, rather pointed ; pure white in color spotted and blotched 

 irregularly with reddish-brown and lilac. 



HABITS. 



On some frosty morning in early April, before the snow has entirely di sap ppeared, two or 

 three Barn Swallows may be seen perched on the roof of some out-building, looking like little 

 balls, for each feather stands at right angles with the body to prevent the ingress of the cold. 

 Later in the day these few individuals may be seen roaming about in the clear air ; then, after a 

 week or so when spring is fairly set in, hundreds are rapidly pursuing the minute insects and 

 performing various rapid and elegant aerial evolutions. Of all the members of this family which 

 inhabit our country, the Barn Swallows are the most graceful and have the most delightful song. 

 All through the long summer days they fly over the green meadows and about the farmhouse, 

 twittering loudly and continuously with bubbling, rippling notes which sound as if the birds 

 were brimming over with happiness and glee. Darting through the wide doors they fill the 

 capacious barn with their enchanting melody as they warble to their mates who sit in the snug 

 nests, which are neatly fastened to the strong beams overhead. The females peer out of their 

 featheMined structures and gaze quietly upon the farmers who are busily engaged in filling 

 the broad bins with fragrant new mown hay. 



All this forms a well known picture of New England rustic life in midsummer, no feature of 

 which is more prominent and enjoyable than the coming and going of the Barn Swallows. These 

 birds lay their eggs in early June, and late in July the young emerge from the nests and perch 

 on fences or buildings. Soon they follow their parents through the air and are often fed by 

 them without alighting, the two coming together breast to breast with fluttering wings, when the 

 offspring receive the supply of dipterous insects which the parent has collected in its capacious 

 month ; then they quickly separate. As autumn approaches, the Barn Swallows assemble on 

 the coast and spend a short season flying over the marshes, but by the first week in September 

 depart for the south. None, as far as my knowledge extends, winter in Florida or breed there, 

 but simply pass through the state in the spring and fall migrations. 





