OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 257 



collar. Tail with white spots on the inner web of all the feathers, except the 

 inner pair. Sexes alike, young less lustrous, much paler below, tail simply 

 forked. Wing, 4^-4! ; tail, 2J to 5. 



Hab. North America in general, from the Fur Countries southward to 

 the West Indies, Central America and South America. 



Nest, in a barn or other outbuilding ; composed of pellets of mud and bits 

 of straw, and lined with feathers. 



Eggs, 4 or 5 ; white, spotted with reddish-brown. 



While the Chff Swallow chooses to fix its nest outside the 

 building under the eaves, the present species prefers the inside, 

 where its dwelling is seen attached to the beams and rafters. 



They too are to some extent gregarious, as many as twenty 

 or thirty pairs being often found nesting together in the same 

 outhouse. 



The Swallows as a class, from their great rapidity of flight 

 and graceful aerial evolutions, are the most easily recognized of 

 all our birds, and this species is perhaps the most accomplished 

 of the group. It is seen skimming over the fields and 

 meadows at a rate which leaves the lightning express far behind, 

 when suddenly checking its course it will dart, with surprising 

 rapidity, to right or left in pursuit of some passing insect. It 

 likes to be near a still sheltered pond, where it can drink and 

 bathe while on the wing, and beautiful it is, on a still summer 

 evening, to see these birds take their plunge bath, and almost 

 without checking their speed rise gracefully from the surface, 

 shake sparkling drops from their burnished backs, and continue 

 their airy gambols till the fading light calls them to their humble 

 home. They arrive in Ontario earty in May, and are generally 

 distributed over the country during summer ; but about the end of 

 August they begin to move toward the south and soon have all 

 disappeared. 



Genus TACHYCINETA Cabanis. 



236. TACHYCINETA BICOLOR ( Vieill.). 614. 



Tree Sw^allow. 



Lustrous green ; below pure white. Young similiar, not so glossy. Length, 

 6-6^; wing, 5 ; tail, 2^. 



