314 Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



Rough-winged Swallow. Stelgidopteryx serripennis (Aud.) 



The brown back will distinguish this Swallow from all others ex- 

 cept the Bank Swallow, and the gray throat and lack of a brown 

 chest band distinguish it from that species. These marks are easily 

 made out in perching birds but are hard to distinguish when they 

 are in flight. With many bird lovers there seems a tendency to over- 

 look this species and speak of all brown-colored Swallows as Bank 

 Swallows, when distinguishing marks cannot be seen. In the Park 

 as well as in most other places, it would be safer to assume them 

 Rough-wings, unless certainly identified as the other species. 



This bird is not uncommon in the Park, although less numerous 

 than the Barn and Cliff Swallows. It is a bird of the air, but is 

 commonly to be found where steep clay banks border a stream. It 

 occurs frequently in parts of the Red House Valley, nests in small 

 numbers along Quaker Run, and has been seen west of Limestone. 



The commonest note of this bird is not like the twitter of other 

 Swallows, but a single rather harsh, long note. This note is often 

 repeated several times, rapidly. 



They nest in a clay bank in a hole either excavated by the birds 

 themselves, or formerly used by a Kingfisher. In some regions 

 they have been found nesting in crevices of stone walls, or the ends 

 of iron pipes. The entrance is usually larger than in the case of the 

 Bank Swallows ; and there is likely to be but a single nest or two or 

 three together, rather than a large colony such as Bank Swallows 

 build. Young, out of the nest, were found on July 4 perched in a 

 dead pine along Red House Creek, where the parents were bringing 

 them food. 



Killdeer. Oxyechus vocifenis (Linn.) 



This bird may be easily known by the white collar around its neck 

 and the two black bands across its breast. Its habits are somewhat 

 like those of sandpipers, but its larger size and shorter bill instantly 

 separate it. The lower back shows a cinnamon-colored patch as the 

 bird flies, and the wings are long and pointed. 



The Killdeer lives on the stony bars of streams in the Park and 

 along the Allegheny River. It also inhabits open fields, particularly 

 those near streams. I found it common along the river, and a few 

 birds were seen on Red House Creek, Quaker Run, and near 

 Limestone. 



The voice of the Killdeer is as characteristic as its plumage. The 

 loud, shrill " kill-dee-ee kill-dee-ee " is well known. When the nest 

 is threatened it produces another note, a trilled " tr-r-r-r-r-r." 



The nest is similar to that of the Spotted Sandpiper, but with 

 somewhat larger eggs. The downy young, even when first hatched, 

 are marked with the black breast bands of the adult. 



Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias herodias Linn. 



This bird may be known by its large size, gray-blue plumage above, 

 and long neck and legs. The head is drawn in and the legs are held 

 outstretched when in flight. Adults have the center of the crown 



