Birds of Massachusetts. 185 
which pass the winter in Florida, come first; the 
white-bellied follows ; next, the purple martin; then, 
the barn swallows ; and last, the chimney imis: 
The probability is, that those which are latest in 
returning, come from the most distant winter quar- 
ters, and that the extent of their migration may be 
determined by the date of their usual reappearance 
in the spring. 
The Curr Swatiow, Hirundo fulva, was hardly 
known to naturalists till within a quarter of a century. 
The first account of its habits was derived from 
Long's expedition to the Rocky Mountains. Since 
that time the whole body have commenced a great 
system of emigration, moving gradually on towards 
the Atlantie, till now it is become quite common in 
many parts of New England. A peculiar sagacity 
is manifested. b y this and the chimney swallow. 
under eaves and cornices, where its nest is partially 
sheltered from the rain. The first emigrants who 
came, informed the rest of their discovery, and in- 
duced the whole tribe to make a radical change in 
some of the most important habits of their lives. 
The nest is a large patch of clay mixed with sand, 
having an entrance near the top, rounded, projecting, 
and bent downward; the whole resembling a coarse 
earthen retort, with the neck broken off, stuck and 
flattened against the side of the building. The nest 
has a lining of dry grass and straw, on which are 
generally four eggs, white) with dusky spots. These 
VOL. IIL—NO. II. — — 24 
