78 
JVESTS AND EGGS OF 
sphere, or more profitably engaged in pursuing their multifarious prey on 
swift and noiseless wings. 
While some remain in .these parts to breed, others retire further 
north, and take up their quartei’S in old accustomed haunts; reaching New 
York and Southern New England towards the close of April, and the 
more northern portions of the latter section about the first of May. Con- 
tinuing their migration, a few, according to Sir John Richardson, pass on 
until they have attained the latitude of 67° 31', where they stop to breed. 
This doubtless occurs about the last of May, or the beginning of June, if 
the fact of their nesting at Fort Chippewayan, ten degrees further south, 
on the fifteenth of May, affords any basis for computation. 
On the Pacific coast these birds are less abundant than on our East- 
ern shores. This is attributable to the lack or scarcity of suitable 
building -places. As settlements multiply, they increase in numbers, 
especially in the neighborhood of farms. Farther inland, the .species is 
conspicuous for its rarity. 
From the time of its arrival until its departure about the first of 
September, and even during the breeding-period, this Swallow delights in 
society. When foraging for food, it is not unusual to see varying numbers 
of birds engaged in the same useful occupation. This habit of gregarious- 
ness, which evinces a love for the companionship of its kind, instead of 
dying out, as is generally the case with many species that might be cited, 
continues to exist, and manifests itself during the time of nesting by a 
desire to dwell in communities. But this is not everywhere the case. 
In some parts of the country, particularly in the extreme north, the 
sexes appear to come together only upon arrival at their places of destina- 
tion. Mating commences either while the birds are in transit, or imme- 
diately upon the conclusion thereof; and as nesting commences when they 
have reached the end of their journey, it is reasonable to conclude that the 
two follow each other in close succession, leaving no time for the di.s}Dlay 
of those curious antics so characteristic of the feathered creatures. 
