590 BANK SWALLOW. 
until they are perfectly able to maintain themselves on wing without 
the assistance of their parents. 
In Louisiana, or in any district where this species raises more than 
one brood in the season, the males, I believe, take the principal charge 
of the young that have left the nest, though both sexes alternately in- 
cubate, all their moments being thus rendered full of care and anxiety 
respecting both their offspring and the sitting bird. The young acquire 
the full brown plumage of the adult by the first spring, when there is 
no observable difference between them; but I am induced to think 
that they keep apart from the old birds during the first winter, when I 
have thought I could yet perceive an inferiority in their flight, as well 
as in the loudness of their notes. 
This species has no song, properly so called, but merely a twitter 
of short lisping notes. In autumn it at times alights on trees prepara- 
tory to its departure. On such occasions the individuals, often col- 
lected in great numbers, take up the time chiefly in pluming themselves, 
infwhich occupation they continue for hours. 
I must conclude with assuring you that in my opinion, no diffe- 
rence whatever exists between the Bank Swallow of America and that 
of Europe. The: birds from which I made the drawing for my plate 
were procured on the banks of the Schuylkil River in 1824. 
Hrirvunvo riparia, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p.344.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 575.— 
Ch. Bonap. Synopsis, p- 65. 
Bank Swattow or Sanp Martin, Hrrunpo riparia, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. v. 
p. 46, pl. 38, fig. 4. 
Hirvunpo riparia, THE Sanp Martin, Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. 
vol. il. p. 333. 
Bank Swattow, or Sanp Martin, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 607. 
Adult Male. Plate CCCLXXXV. Fig. 1. : 
Bill very short, much depressed and very broad at the base, com- 
pressed toward the point, of a triangular form with the lateral outlines 
concave, when viewed from above or beneath; upper mandible with 
the dorsal line considerably convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp 
and overlapping, with a slight but distinct notch close to the deflected 
tip ; lower mandible with the angle very broad, the dorsal line ascend- 
ing and convex, the ridge broad and flat at the base, narrowed toward 
