72 The Birds of Albany County 



nest, made of grasses and feathers, is at the end of a small 

 tunnel dug by the birds in a sand bank ; eggs, five or six, white. 



Tree Swallow; White-bellied Swallow. — 

 Iridoprocne bicolor. 5.91 



Fairly Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Upper tail-coverts light brown; entire under 

 parts pure white; upper parts steel blue, appearing black, 

 in flight. 



Has been observed quite numerously out in the open 

 country. There are records of its breeding in adjoining 

 counties and it undoubtedly does here. The nest is built in< 

 a hollow tree or bird-box; eggs, four or five, white ground, 

 finely speckled with brown. 



Barn Swallow. — Hirundo er^throgastra. 6.95 



Common Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Forehead, throat, and upper breast bright 

 chestnut; upper parts deep violet; under parts washed 

 with light chestnut; tail shaped like a partly-opened pair 

 of scissors. 



From the first of May until the last of September, the 

 Barn Swallows are very numerous in this County. They are, 

 perhaps, the most graceful fliers we have. Sweeping low 

 over die broad, open meadows, describing long curves, or 

 rising and falling on the breeze hke slender boats on a rolling 



