88 PETROCHELIDON LUNIFEONS, CLIFF SWALLOW. 



ditioQS that civilization imposes, and breed about buildings like its 

 allies. 



At Port Whipple the Violet-green Swallows resided during the sum- 

 mer in small, loose colonies, in high, open pine woods, preferubly about 

 the edges of the timber. They could not contest with the Woodpeck- 

 ers, as the Martins did, for recent holes, but they occupied deserted ones, 

 as well as knot-holes or other crannies in the trees. According to Dr. 

 Cooper, on the Pacific coast they frequent the high prairies bordered 

 with oaks and other deciduous trees, breeding in knot-holes or in deserted 

 Woodpeckers' holes. Mr. Allen found them breeding in holes in the 

 rocks. Mr. Nuttall states, on the authority of Mr. Townsend, that along 

 the Columbia Eiver they used to breed in the aeserted nests of the Cliff 

 Swallow. 



The speckled egg figured and described by Dr. Brewer, as of this 

 species, has since been ascertained to belong to another. The eggs 

 are four or five in number, and pure white, like those of the Bank 

 Swallow. 



According to Mr. Allen's manuscript, "the Violet-green Swallow, the 

 most delicately and brilliantly colored of our Sirundines, was met with 

 in considerable abundance in Colorado, from the base of the mountains 

 up to about 8,000 or 10,000 feet. Like the White-bellied Swallow, it 

 lives generally in colonies, a considerable number of pairs commonly 

 breeding in the same vicinity. We met with several such colonies on 

 our route from Denver to South Park, but as we also passed long dis- 

 tances during the same journey without meeting with the species at all, 

 it is, probably to be regarded as rather locally distributed. They appear 

 to generally nest in abandoned Woodpeckers' holes, but at the "Garden 

 of the Gods," and on the "divide" between Denver and Colorado City, 

 we found them breeding in holes in the rocks, at the former locality, in 

 company with the Eocky Mountain Swift {Panyptila saxatilis).'" 



Since writing the foregoing I have received the desired evidence of 

 the change of nidiflcation of this species, above noted as to be expected. 

 Eeferriiig to Idaho Springs, Clear County, Colorado, Mr. Trippe informs 

 me that the Violet-green Swallow is abundant, nesting under the eaves of 

 houses, like the Cliff Swallow, and also in hollow trees. "It arrives," he 

 adds, "toward the close of May, and soon becomes numerous, up to an 

 altitude of 10,500 feet, occasionally even venturing higher. It disap- 

 pears irom the higher regions in August, and in September leaves the 

 country.'' ^ 



^ PETEOCHELIDON" LU]SriFEOS"S, (Say.) Scl. 



Cliff Swallow; Eave Swallow. 



Sirundo lunifrons, Say, Long's Exp. ii, 1823, 47. — Woodh., Sitgr. Rep, 1853, 64. — Cass., 

 111. 1855, 243.— Bkew., N. A. O. i, 1857, 94, pi. 5, figs. 68-73.— Xewb., P. E. E. 

 Eep. vi, 1851, 78.— Be, B. N. A. 1858, 309.- Coop. & Sock., N. H. Wasb. Ter. 

 1860, 124. — Lawk., Ann. Lye. N. Y. 1861, 317 (Panama, winter).— Hayd., Eep. 

 1862, 161.- Lord, Pr. Arty. Inst. Wool, iv, 1864, 16 (British Columbia).— Verr., 

 Pr. Boat. Soo. 1864, 276 (biogr.).— Ball & Bann., Tr. Cbie. Acad, i, 1869, 279 

 (Alaska).— Coop., Am. Nat. iii, 1869, 33 (Missouri, "in swarms"); B. Cal. 1870, 

 104.— Stev., U. S. Geol. Surv. Ter. 1870, 463 (Wyoming).— Allen, Bnll. M. C. 

 Z. iii, 1872, 176 (Colorado, up to timber-line). — Trippe, Pr. Bost. Soc. xv, 1872, 

 235 (Iowa).— Snow, B. Kans. 1873, 5 ; and of most writers. 



PetrochcMon lunifrons, ScL., Cat. A. B. 1862, 40.- Bd., Eev. 1865, 288.— CouES, Key, 

 1872, 114.— Hold., Pr. Bost. Soc. xv, 1872, 197 (Black Hills).— ilcRR., U. S. 

 Geol. Surv. Ter. 182, 676 (Idaho). 



Sirundo opifex, Clixt., Ann. Lye. N. Y. i, 1824, 161. 



Mirundo rcspublicaiia, Aud., Ann. Lvc. N. Y. i, 1824, 164. 



mrundo fiilva, Bp., Am. Orn. i, 1825, 63, pi. 7, f. 1 ; Syu. 1828, 64 ; List, 1838, 9.— Nott., 

 Man. i, 1«32, 603.— .©/g[tf;^B( ^i/lfCfiS^f^ pl- 58; Syn. 1839, 35; B. Am. 



