292 BIRDS — HIETJNDINID^. 



Swallow is larger, and has a more labored flight than the i5arn Swallow ; 

 it lacks the pure white of the under parts, and the pectoral collar is in- 

 complete and obscured. Their notes also differ, the Rough-winged is 

 more noisy, though less so than most other members of the family. 



With us, although the greater number are found in the vicinity of 

 water, the Rough-winged Swallow is a bird of general distribution. It 

 was first detected in this State by Dr. Kirtland (Kirkpatrick, 1. c), who 

 found them abundant and nesting in the banks of Rocky River, near his 

 residence. In 1861, 1 found it common in the vicinity of Columbus, and 

 discovered its nest on a beam under a low bridge. Since then they ap- 

 pear to be increasing in numbers, at least in the city. They nest abund- 

 antly in the banks of rivers and creeks, and in gravel pits, where they 

 excavate holes, larger but not so deep as the holes of the Bank Swallow. 

 They generally choose a spot where excavation is easy, an isolated pair 

 often removing a decayed root; small colonies generally excavate their 

 holes between a layer of loam and one of sand, in such a manner that 

 the loam forms the roof, and the sand the floor of the excavation. These 

 holes are dug varying distances fiom the top of the bank, and vary in 

 depth from one to three feet. Usually a few straws and feathers arranged 

 around the eggs, are the only apology for a nest. Their nests are often 

 in the cracks in the rocks of stone-quarries, and very frequently in the 

 crevices of the piers and abutments of bridges, the foundations of mills, 

 and other masonry. In the city they frequently place their nest in the 

 most frequented places. A pair nested for several successive years not 

 more than thirty feet from the principal business street of this city, oc- 

 cupying a pudlock hole in a brick building, about ten feet from the 

 ground, and below the windows of a telegraph office. Another pair 

 nested in an alley, in a hole in a brick wall under a door in the second 

 story, through which goods were daily raised and lowered by a hoist. 

 They also build on the projecting caps of the large pillars in the porticos 

 of the State House. Mr. Langdon states that they build in barns, but 

 in this vicinity the beams under the floors of bridges are preferred to 

 other wooden structures. 



The eggs are five or six, pure white ; they measure .75 by ,53. 



Genus PROGNE. Boie. 



Body stout. Bill robust, lengtheneci ; lower or commissural edge of maxilla sinuated, 

 decidedly convex for basal half, then as concave to the tip, the lower mandible falling 

 within its chord'. Nostrils superior, broadly open, and nearly circular; without any ad- 

 jacent membrane, the edges rounded. Legs stout. Tarsus equal to middle toe without 

 claw; the joint feathered; lateral toes about equal; the basal joint of middle toe half 

 free internally, rather less so externally. Claws strong, much curved. 



