346 NORTH AMEIUCAN BIRDS. 



habit, breeding Ihero oxcbisively in iniirtiu-boxes, iind iiiroly, if ever, nesting 

 in lidllow trees, — a tact iierliap.s attribiUalile to the scarcity ol' these opportu- 

 nities along the sea-coast, where this bird is principally found. In Wesi.rn 

 Massachusetts, Mr. AUcu states tliem to be not very common and the least 

 abundant of the Sw.dlow.s. Any sheltered and accessible l)o.\, however rough 

 it may be, will answer its iiiiri)ose. whether tlie more elaborate martin-house, 

 or a mere candle-bo.\ with an open end. Mr. Audubon ha.s known them to 

 drive away a Uarn Swallow from its nest, and to take possession, but this 

 was probably exceptional. In one ca.sc, two small houses Ibr birds put up in 

 the same yard were taken possession of by a single ])aii' of Swallows, and 

 nests built in each ; only one, however, of these was made use of. Whether 

 this freak was the result (;f indecision or from a grasping selfishness, it is 

 not po.ssible to conclude, but a]i[)areully the foriuer. 



In the rural districts, even on the coast, these birds are not so abundant as 

 in the cities, as in the latter they are les^ annoyed by other birds. Tiie com- 

 mon liobiu is often especially aggressive, seeking to drive them olf his as- 

 sumed prenii.ses. In one in.stance the liol)iii has been known to .station him- 

 self on a platform in front of its nest for hours, and persistently refuse to 

 permit its visits. A.ssistance was sougiil, and all the Swallows in the neigh- 

 boriiood came to tlie rescue. They sailed with angry cries over the head of 

 the ollender, at times darting down ujion him as if to strike at him, but 

 accomjtlishing nothing. Tlie besieger maintained his ground until the writer 

 intervened and drove him away, when the Swallows once more took posses- 

 sion, and fed their hungry nestlings in ])eace. 



This sjiecies Ijreeds from about latitudt! 08° to the extreme northern regions, 

 and along the Arctic seas, where\ ci' iacilities for nesting are found, liichard- 

 son found them lireediug in hollow trees on the Mackenzie IJiver, in latitude 

 G.j°. Everywhere on both coasts lliey are very connnon, but are less numer- 

 ous in the interior. Mr. Dall found it in Alaska from Fort Yukon to the seii. 

 It was known to the Kussians as the Iii^'cr Swidlow. It was also met with 

 in Sitka, by Uisciiolf. It has not been observed in (ireenland. 



During the breeding-season this s])ecies is more (piarrelsome than any of 

 its kindred, and is often more than a n)atch for larger birds. Coming earlier 

 in the season than the I'urple Martin, it will often intrude itself into its 

 premises and maintain possession. They are devotedly attached to their off- 

 .sjn'ing, and i)ewail any accidents to them or any tlnvatened peril. The same 

 pair will return year aftiu- year to the same ]u-einises, an<I they soon become 

 on familiar terms with th'> memlu": s of a family they freiiuently meet, so 

 much so as to watcii, when they have received materials for their nests, for a 

 further sup])ly, and will lly cdo.se to the |ierson from whom they receive them. 

 A ])air which had thus, year alter year, received sup])lies of leathers for their 

 nests from the younger members of the family in wiiose yard their lU'st was 

 built, would almost take, them from thii hands of their providers. This ])air 

 sat so close as to permit themselves to be taken from their nest, and when 



