82 



THE OOLOGIST. 



with feathers, is placed upon the rafters or 

 under the eaves of a barn or other building. 

 In the nest of this bird' "runt" eggs are 

 frequently found, and, as in many other 

 cases of all the more common birds, gener- 

 ally a set of pure white or abnormal eggs 

 is not uncommon. Distributed during the 

 breeding season throughout United States 

 and Canada. 



Hab. North America. 



lo5. White-bellied Swallow — tachycin- 

 ETA BicoLOK. White, unspotted, oblong- 

 oval; the eggs are from four to seven, and 

 occasionally nine, in number and measure 

 from .70 to .78 in length by .50 to .55 in 

 breadth. This Swallow breeds from lati- 

 tude 38° to high Arctic regions, and is res- 

 ident throughout the year in the plateaus 

 of Mexico. It nests in old excavations of 

 woodpeckers or natural cavities of dead 

 trees, always in the vicinity of water. The 

 nest is composed of leaves and grass thickly 

 lined with feathers. This bird often accepts 

 the boxes set up for its accommodation, but 

 it is not easy to induce them to occupy such 

 artificial domiciles. 



Hab. Temperate America. 



156. Violet-green Swallow — tachycin- 

 ETA THALASSiNA. Pure white; four or five 

 in number, size .80 by .50. This lovely 

 Swallow is common from the central plains 

 of North America to the Pacific coast. It 

 breeds abundantly in California, Oregon 

 and Washington Territory, and is the most 

 characteristic Swallow of the pine regions 

 of Arizona, and has been found in consid- 

 erable abundance in Colorado, nesting in 

 all suitable localities, and, like the Eave 

 Swallow, usually in colonies. It nests in 

 knot-holes of oak and other deciduous trees 

 and in the deserted excavations of wood- 

 peckers, and more recently it has been 

 found nesting under the eaves of houses, 

 like the Cliff Swallow. The nest is made 

 of dr}' grasses, lined with a thick mass of 

 feathers. It has also been found nesting in 

 holes in banks. 



Hab. Western and Middle Province of United 

 States; south to Guatemala; east to Upper 

 Missouri. 



157. Bank Swallow— cotile riparat. 

 White; three to six; oval; size .72 by .47. 

 The Bank Swallow, or Sand Martin, found 

 throughout Europe, is also equally common 

 throughout North America, and breeds in 

 the greater part of its range. The holes in 

 which this bird ne.sts are excavated by the 

 bird in the perpendicular face of bank ; the 

 depth ranges from two to four feet. The 

 termination is usually somewhat enlarged 

 and the bottom is thinly covered with a few 

 twigs, grasses and feathers. In suitable 

 localities immense numbers will occupy a 



large bank and so perforate it with holes so 

 as to present the appearance of a huge hon- 

 eycomb alive with bees. 



Hab. Europe, Asia, Africa, America. 



158. Rough-winged Swallow — stelgid- 

 OPTERYX SERRiPENNis. immaculate white; 

 four to six in number, closely resembling 

 those of the Bank Swallow, but average a 

 little larger, perhaps .75 by .55. This bird 

 breeds throughout most of its United States 

 range, nesting in the crevices of stone walls 

 and arches over bridges, sometimes in a 

 chink in the boarding of a building; almost 

 invariably over running water. The nest 

 is simply constructed of grasses, straws, 

 and lined with feathers. 



Hab. United States from Atlantic to Pacific, and 

 adjoining- British Provinces. 



Oology ; The Largest Collection of 

 Birds Eggs. 



We clip the following from Youthful 

 Ambitions: 



' ' There are few collections made by the 

 lovers of nature or art that are more simply 

 charming and interesting than that of a 

 fine variety of bird's eggs. Although I 

 object to all needless disturbance of the 

 structures of and interference with the 

 duties of God's creatures, I think in behalf 

 of science and for the gratification of 

 oological tastes we are perfectly justified in 

 securing all varieties of birds eggs that will 

 add interest to our collections. 



' ' The exquisite coloring and delicacy of 

 the diverse yet similar formations which 

 hold the birds that ' might have been' are 

 varied delightful. 



****** 



"A collection of eggs that would in any 

 regard approach completeness must be the 

 work of a life time. Dr. Phil. Edward A. 

 Baldamus, of Coburg, Germanj-, who is 

 said to have the largest collection in the 

 world, has devoted his time, labor, money, 

 and talent to securing them since 1834. 

 His collection now numbers 18,741 eggs, 

 representing 1,667 varieties. Dr. Baldamus 

 has secured the nests of many birds, and 

 has them in his cabinet with complete sets 

 of eggs. One must have seen this incom- 

 parable collection to realize its beauty and 

 magnitude. 



Mrs. S. L Oberholtzer, 



Norristown, Pa." 



