220 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY. [Yol. Yl. 



Ampelis cedrorum (Vieill.) Baird. — Cedar Wax- wing. 



Found in the Upper Humboldt Valley in September along the streams 

 flowing from the Clover Mountains. — (Bidgway.) 



UIRTJlSBmiDM. 



Progne subis (Linn.) Baird. — Purple Martin. 



Apparently not as common as other species of this family. Mr. Eidg- 

 way found them at Carson City, and at Virgima City only one individual 

 was seen on the 18th of June. Dr. Cooper has not seen them in the Col- 

 orado Yalley, although they are common on the Pacific coast at a much 

 higher latitude, from which they leave for the south in August. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons (Say) Lawr. — Cliff Swallow. 



This species is usually abundant in the vicinity of rivers, streams, 

 and even large springs in fertile valleys, as at one locality near the divide 

 between Deep Spring and Smoky Valleys. In many places against the 

 face of the limestone cliifs the nests of these birds were built and aj)par- 

 ently heaped upon one another in the greatest profusion. Immediately 

 beneath the ledges, which were vertically about 80 feet high and ex- 

 tended horizontally for about 100 yards, there was continuation of the 

 pinon woods visible in every direction, except about an eighth of a mile 

 below, where the timber ended and the grassy valley stretched away 

 toward the east. The springs and a small rivulet rising in the hills on 

 the south were fringed with an abundance of willows and small cotton- 

 woods, where we first noticed these birds during the afternoon of our 

 going into camp. The next day, however, we found their habitations, 

 and even saw the birds flyiug in all directions over the hills above the 

 clift" in pursuit of insects, as various localities, though presenting an ab- 

 sence of timber, were amjily covered with various flowering plants upon 

 and about which there appeared sufficient numbers of lepidoptera and 

 orthoptera, furnishing perhaps the principal food of these birds in this 

 portion of the State. 



Hirundo erythrogastra Bodd. — ^Barn Swallow. 



Although a species of general distribution, its occurrence in many 

 portions of Nevada has yet to be recorded. Mr. Eidgway found it most 

 abundant around Pyramid Lake, while Dr. Cooper reports its passing 

 Fort Mojave for the north during the last week in May. In the timbered 

 hills south of Eureka, along a short range of clift's, were found great 

 numbers of Cliff Swallow ( Petrochelidon lunifrons) who had constructed 

 their nests in nearly every available spot. Specimens were noticed 

 amongst the latter, sux)posed to be erythrogastra^ but none were secured 

 so as to definitely settle the question. ' 



Tachycineta Mcolor (Vieill.) Caban. — White-bellied Swallow. 



Mr. Eidgway found this species on the Wasatch Mountains, at an 

 altitude of 8,000 or 9,000 feet. Its occurrence in E"evada is also noted, 



