9 



bushes {3Ii/rica cerlfera) which grow abundantly in this section. Curious to know what 

 they w^ere doing I shot several, and was much surprised to find their croj^s and stomachs 

 tilled with the aromatic berries. This fruit is about the size of uuground black peppers, 

 and is coated with a waxy substance, of which the bay-berry tallow is made. Tliis was 

 formerly iised for manufacturing candles ; indeed it is now used for this purpose in some 

 sections of the country. I have since taken many sjiccimens, and found that it is a 

 confirmed habit of this species to feed on the bay-berry. An examination of the fruit in 

 the process of digestion shows that only the outer waxy covering is consumed, the inner 

 or harder portion being voided. It is probable that this substance is highly nutritious, 

 as the birds become very fat through feeding upon it. The great mass of Wliite-bellied 

 Swallows depart early in September, but a few remain later than any other members of 

 the family. The last straggler, however, disappears by the middle of the month." 



Mr. B. H. Dutclier, in his notes on the birds of Little Gull Island, Xcw York, says 

 that between the 0th and 16th of August flocks were seen every day migrating south- 

 wards, and that they followed tlie same line as Ilb'undo erytlirocjastra in their flight 

 from the mainland, viz. from Tisher's Island to Little Gull, Little Gull to Great Gull, 

 Great Gull to Plum Island, and so to Long Island. 



Mr. Brewster mentions it among the species which breed near Winchendon, Mass. ; 

 and Mr. Walter Eaxou, in his paper on the birds observed by him on the Graylock 

 Mountain between the 28th of June and the IGth of July, states that he saw a few 

 individuals in the village of North Adams, the only ones observed by him in Berkshire 

 county. 



Mr. "W. E. D. Scott, writing in 1879 on the birds noticed at Long Beach, Xew 

 Jersey, states that it was a common migrant there, but bred very rarely. The first was 

 seen on the 7th of April, and it was not noticed again till the 15th of that month. A 

 pair bred on the northern extremity of the beach, near the liglithouse. Large numbers 

 were seen on the 16th of November, 1880, at Squam Beach, New^ Jersey, and Mr. Scott 

 writes of this abnormal visit : — " The Swallows had been abundant for the previous two 

 days, though the temperature was unusually low for the time of the year. Tliey were 

 feeding on the bay-berry {Myrica cerifera) in such numbers that ]Mr. Hardenbergh 

 secured fifteen birds at a single shot. The birds were brought to me, and at least three 

 quarters are in immature plumage." 



" In Pennsylvania," writes jMr. Warren, " the Tree-Swallow arrives late in !March or 

 early in April, and leaves in September. It is common and very generally dislriljutcd 

 durini? mi2;ration. Asa summer resident it is restricted chiefly to localities about rivers." 



on • 



Mr. Evermann states that in Carroll County, Indiana, it is a migrant and not ver\ 

 common. 



Mr. Fox, in his list of birds from Roane County, Tennessee, gives the i)resent species 

 as not common, first seen on the 1st of April, issf. and a few during April 1<885. Mr. 

 Loomis found it migrating only in South Carolina. 



Mr. Mavnard, in his ' 15irds of Florida,' writes: — '■ The A\'liiii'-l)ellie(l is ilie uiil\ 



