12 



elsewhere, and every knot-hole or, rather, cavity among the trees seemed to have been 

 taken possession of by a pair. They were then engaged in building their nests, and 

 throufhout the day Avonld come to the yard door of the reservation-house to pick up the 

 feathers or bits of rag or paper scattered about the ground, after hurriedly seizing which 

 they would fly with the article selected in a direct line to their nests. As they sat on 

 the ground they were beautiful little birds, and though they squatted somewhat 

 awkwardly, on account of the smallness of their feet, they raised their heads so proudly, 

 and glanced so sharply, yet timidly about them, that they seemed graceful in their 

 motions ; while each movement caused the sunlight to glance from their burnished 

 backs of lusti'ous steel-blue, with which the snowy white of their breasts contrasted so 

 strikingly. Although the object picked up was most often a feather, it occasionally 

 happened that one would take hold of a string or a long shred of cloth, perhaps a yard 

 or more in length, in which case so conspicuous an object was certain to be seized upon 

 by others, as the bearer laboured to carry it to his nest, thus becoming the subject of 

 quite a struggle, and much twittering. 



" The White-bellied Swallow was by no means confined to the wooded river -valleys, 

 however, but it was equally abundant among the aspen woods high up in the Wahsatch 

 Mountains, at an altitude of 8000 or 9000 feet. It was also common in the Sacramento 

 Valley, but a few feet above the sea-level, among the oak-trees of the plain. Neither is 

 it invariably arboreal, for it seems to have become, in certain localities, more ' civilized,' 

 like its cousin the Purple Martin, and to have taken advantage of the abode of man in 

 localities wdiere there are no trees to accommodate them. Such was conspicuously the 

 case at Carson City, where they were quite numerous, and bu^ilt their nests under the 

 eaves, behind the weather-boarding, or about the porches of dwellings or other buildings, 

 and were quite familiar. The specimens collected were shot on the wing, and wlien one 

 was brought down, the rest would exhibit great concern, circling about the victim 

 and littering a plaintive twitter, as their suffering companion lay fluttering on the 

 ground." 



Mr. Hoffmann gives the followin'jr note on the White-bellied Swallow in Nevada : — 

 " Mr. E,idgway found this species on the Wahsatch Mountains, at an altitude of 8000 or 

 9000 feet. Its occurrence in Nevada is also noted, more especially throughout the 

 western portion of this State, near Pyramid Lake, Carson City, &c. They are not very 

 gregarious during the breeding-season, and but few are found together at any particular 

 locality at that time, though later in the season they have been found in large flocks, 

 probably preparatory to migration." 



In Colorado, according to Mr. Drew, it breeds from the plains up to 10,000 feet, 

 and is found in spring and summer from 8000 to 11,000 feet. It remains there until 

 September. At Twin Lakes, Colorado, it was found by Mr. Scott to be common, breeding 

 in deserted Woodpeckers' holes and suitable localities. On the 2ith of June he saw 

 pairs building, by the 29th incubation had begun in several cases, and on the 4th of 

 July he found a nest with six eggs slightly incubated. 



