278 



able for the clearness and accuracy of his memory, as well as for his 

 habits of close observation, states that the Eaves Swallow commenced 

 to breed on his father's barn at Wells, Me. (now Kennebunk), in 

 1804, two years before his removal from that town, which was in 

 1806. 



Dr. J. W. Steel* states that "In 1800, I first noticed a colony of 

 these birds at Union, in Maine ; their nests were constructed of mud 

 and occupied the entire front of a long barn, filling the space under 

 the eaves." 



Mr. 6. A. Boardman, well known as an observing ornithologist, in- 

 forms me that when he removed from Massachusetts to St. Stephens, 

 N. B., in 1828, his attention was at once attracted by these swallows, 

 which he had never seen before, breeding in abundance, and was told 

 that they were nothing new there. 



From these facts it seems that since this bird was not discovered 

 anywhere in the West before 1815, we have no reason whatever to 

 suppose that its migration proceeded from west to east, or that it did not 

 originally belong as much to the eastern as to the western part of the 

 continent. That it has, within a comparatively recent time, extend- 

 ed its range to southern New England and as far south as Pennsylva- 

 nia along the Atlantic coast, is undeniable ; but it seems to me equally 

 probable that it advanced from the north, or northeast, southward, as 

 from the west eastward. The opinion to wliich I am most inclined, 

 after considering all the facts hitherto collected bearing upon the sub- 

 ject, is that when this continent was first settled by Europeans, the 

 Cliff Swallow inhabited the whole of its breadth wherever there 

 were, extensive limestone cliffs suitable for the building of its nests ; 

 and that as civilization advanced toward its native haunts, and suita- 

 ble buildings became accessible to it, it gradually abandoned the cliffs, 

 and, increasing in numbers to a greater extent than before, on ac- 

 count of the protection invariably furnished it by man, it gradually 

 spread over New England and the other northern States, where hith- 

 erto there had been no cliffs suited to its wants. In thus extending 

 its range, it probably advanced both from the western and from the 

 northeastern parts of the country, both these regions abounding in 

 high limestone cliffs, which are entirely wanting in New England. 



This view also seems more in accordance with the known changes 

 in the habits and range of our other species of swallows. 



The following paper was presented : — 



* American Journal of Science, Vol. xrx., 1831, p. 356. 



