998 REPOKT OF STATE GEOLOGIST.. 



RANGE. America, from Brazil to Labrador and Alaska. Breeds 

 locally from southern United States north. Winters from coast of 

 Gulf States south. 



Nest, in hole which it excavates in a steep bank. Generally nest in 

 colonies. Eggs, 4-7; pure white; .71 by .50. 



Abundant summer resident, breeding in colonies wherever there 

 are steep banks along streams or about ponds in which they can exca- 

 vate holes for their nests. In more level localities they sometimes 

 dig holes in railroad and other embankments, where they are built 

 of sand. Where desirable nesting sites are lacking, the Swallows are 

 wanting and are only seen during migrations. 



Late in March or early in April, some years, they may be found 

 about water or near a sandy or loamy bluff. Other years they are 

 about three weeks later in arriving. Five of them arrived at Lafayette, 

 March 20, 1897, and in 1896 the first were seen April 25. The first ar- 

 rived at Brookville, April 3, 1884, April 27, 1893; at Bloomington, 

 April 6, 1884; Greencastle, April 13, 1893, April 27, 1896; Edwards, 

 April 18, 1896, April 21, 1897. At Chicago they arrived from April 

 20 to May 10 (Parker). Mr. D. C. Ridgley found them building a 

 nest near Delphi, April 28, 1894. They have been noted breeding 

 near Chicago, 111., June 17, 1894. The nests are placed at the end of 

 galleries dug in the banks. Sometimes these excavations branch or 

 have lateral passages, and in these two, or even more, pairs build nests. 



When the young are old enough to leave the nest, they and the 

 parents may be observed sitting on bushes or the limbs of brush along 

 the stream. A favorite site is a telegraph wire. Where such are 

 available, a little later, they may be found thickly strung along the 

 wire associated with other kinds of Swallows. These Swallows have 

 continued to nest in their old way. All other species found in the 

 eastern United States have changed to a greater or less degree. Their 

 white underparts, marked with a dark band across the breast, dis- 

 tinguish them when on the wing from the Rough-winged Swallow^ 

 which occupies similar locations. They leave through the month of 

 August, being rarely found in September. Observed abundantly at 

 Chicago, 111., August 4, 1896; Brookville, Ind., September, 1885, Sep- 

 tember 1, 1886; Mr. E. R. Quick reported them from Brookville, Oc- 

 tober 18, 1880. Its food consists of small flying insects, which it cap- 

 tures while skimming the water or flying low over the meadows and 

 grain fields. 



