Birds of Allegany Park 315 



white, bordered by black lines, but in young birds the entire top of 

 the head is black. 



This heron occurs occasionally in the Park, and along the Alle- 

 gheny River in late summer. It probably does not nest in the local- 

 ity, all the birds being wanderers from some distant nesting colony. 

 Birds were observed along the river, near Tunesassa on August 3 

 and near Red House on August 13. Others reporced the bird in 

 the Park area along Quaker Run in late July. 



The voice of the Great Blue Heron is not often heard. It is a 

 loud, harsh squawk, much lower in pitch than that of the Green 

 Heron. People living near the Park commonly refer to this bird 

 as a " Crane." The true Crane is exceedingly rare anywhere in 

 eastern United States and unknown in this region. 



Herring Gull. Larus argcntatus Pont. 



The Herring Gull may be known by its large size, considerably 

 larger than the Crow, and its long wings, usually somewhat curved 

 in flight. Adults may also be known by the white and light gray 

 plumage, with black-tipped wings. The back and wings are gray, 

 and head and tail white. Young birds are dull grayish brown with 

 black tails, and various intergradations between this plumage and 

 that of the adult are to be found. 



This bird occurs as a late summer straggler along the Allegheny 

 River, and has not been seen inside the Park boundary. It prob- 

 ably nests nowhere in the region, and is said to occur along the 

 river mainly when the water is high. Birds were seen there July 13 

 and 30, both times after a heavy rain the day before had somewhat 

 swollen the river. 



The voice of this bird is loud, high-pitched and shrill. The com- 

 monest call sounds like " keeyo keeyo keeyo," but it has a great 

 variety of other notes. 



Bank Swallow. Riparia riparia (Linn.) 



This bird is easily told from all its relatives except the Rough- 

 wing by its plain brown back. The white throat and the brown 

 chest band distinguish it always from the Rough-wing, as even 

 young birds fresh from the nests possess this mark. 



The Bank Swallow is rare in the Park. Whether it nests there 

 or not is uncertain. No nesting colony was found, and observations 

 were limited to three birds near Limestone, one on July 23, and 

 two on July 26. There may be a colony somewhere in that vicinity 

 from which these birds had strayed. Where a colony is found many 

 birds are likely to be seen in the immediate vicinity. 



The notes of this Swallow are rather harsh like those of the 

 Rough-wing. There is, however, a difference between the notes of 

 the two species, not easily described yet distinct when once learned. 



The nest of the Bank Swallow is built in a hole in a clay or sand 

 bank along a stream border or in an old clay pit, or cut along a 

 railroad or highway. The birds always nest in colonies, often large 

 ones, with the openings of the nests quite close together, so that the 

 bank appears riddled with holes. The entrances to the nests are 

 smaller than those of the Rough-winged Swallow. 



