EGGS: 



The complement of eggs consists of four, five, or six, five being perhaps the most frequent number. 

 They are pure white, with shell so thin that the yolk shows through, giving a pinkish cast to fresh 

 specimens. In long-diameter they vary from .68 to .84, and in short-diameter, from .51 to .58; a common 

 size is about .74 x .52. 



DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 



The eggs of the Rough-winged Swallow, the Bank Swallow, and of the species being considered, 

 measure as follows, the order in which they are named being preserved : 



Long-diameter, .68 to .76; short-diameter, .50 to .54; common size, .52 x .69. 

 .60 to .72 ; " .47 to .51 ; " .49 x .68. 



.68 to .84; " .51 to .58; " .52 x .74. 



From this it will be seen that it is difficult if not impossible to identify eggs alone of these Swallows 

 with any degree of certainty. Other data, such as locality, position, and materials of the nest must 

 accompany them in order to be certain of the species. 



REMARKS : 



Plate LXVIII, Fig. 1, represents three eggs of the White-bellied Swallow, the middle one being 

 the common size, the others the extremes. 



Nearly all our Swallows show the influence of the civilization of this country, and even the White- 

 bellied Swallow is not exempt. The Barn Swallow has entirely deserted its former haunts for the 

 beams and rafters of barns; the Cliff Swallow has abandoned the caves and rocky ledges for the protect- 

 ing eaves of our out-buildings. The Purple Martin now takes advantage of the bird-boxes of the town 

 and country, while the Rough-winged Swallow nests in crevices about masonry and frame buildings. 



In the East, where the country has been long settled, according to "North American Birds," the 

 White-bellied Swallow is most numerous in the towns and cities, and is seldom found building except in 

 some box arranged for the purpose. It is to be presumed that before many } r cars the same influences 

 which have worked such a change there, will also domesticate here our wild and nature-loving Swallow, 

 whose white and silvery breast is now only seen along the most uninhabitable banks of our streams. 

 Then there will remain only the little Bank Swallow to be converted to the ways of man. Just what 

 changes may yet take place in the nidfiication of this species it is impossible to predict, but that it will 

 escape the influence of civilization entirely, is improbable. 



290 



