Birds of Allegany Park 267 



forked tail, the white forehead, which is easily seen when birds are 

 perching, and the salmon-buff patch on the lower back, which is 

 readily discerned in flight. Young birds also have these distin- 

 guishing marks, but lack the chestnut-colored throat. When they 

 are perching breast forward the gray throat suggests a Rough- 

 winged Swallow, and the other marks must be carefully looked for. 



Like the Barn Swallow, this species is mainly a bird of the air, 

 but is found about barns and perched on wires. It is locally exceed- 

 ingly common in the Park. Colonies nest in the Red House Valley 

 on lower Quaker Run, and west of Limestone, in the latter place 

 outnumbering the Barn Swallow at least ten to one. I did not 

 observe it near Salamanca. 



The twitter of this Swallow is similar to that of the Barn Swal- 

 low, but in a peculiar squeaky voice that at once identifies it. 



Nests are placed in colonies under the eaves of a building, most 

 often an unpainted barn. In some localities the birds build against 

 the rock faces of cliffs, but no such colony was seen in the Park. The 

 nests are constructed of mud, and are retort-shaped, and lined with 

 grass and feathers. Frequently the parents occupy the nest to- 

 gether, when the heads of both may be observed side, by side at the 

 opening. The fledglings often return to the nest after they have 

 left it once, a habit rare among birds. 



Chimney Swift. Chcctura pelagica (Linn.) 



This dusky bird could only possibly be confused with the Swal- 

 lows. From these it is distinguished by the rounded rather than 

 forked tail, the dark under parts, nearly as dark as the back, the 

 habit of never perching, and rarely resting anywhere save inside of 

 a chimney, and the distinctly different flight. What the difference 

 in flight is, is hard to say. It has always seemed to me that it beats 

 its wings alternately, but the swallow both together. 



The Chimney Swift is quite common in the Park, flying about 

 here and there in the stream valleys, and frequently dropping 

 into an old open-topped chimney. Often, in the midst of the for- 

 ested areas far from any buildings, I heard the notes of these birds 

 flying above' the tree tops. This led me to think that they may still 

 nest in hollow trees somewhere in the Park area. It might well be, 

 for the bird is quite common, yet the open-topped chimney it prefers 

 is now rather rare. 



The notes of this bird are a loud, rapid series of " chips," sound- 

 ing like " chip chip chipper chipper chipper chipper chip." usually 

 produced when several birds are flying about in company. 



The nest placed on the inside of a chimney is bracket-shaped and 

 built of twigs, fastened together and to the chimney wall by the glue- 

 like saliva from the bird's mouth. 



English Sparrow; House Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Linn.) 

 This well-known but little-esteemed bird is about six inches in 

 length. The male is marked with a broad stripe of rich chestnut- 

 brown on the sides of the head, and a patch of the same on 



