ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. 361 
rambling about with Mr. Otto Widmann near East St. Louis, we found a colony of 
Bank Swallows breeding on one side of a railroad embankment, while about six or 
eight pairs of Rough-winged Swallows nested on the other side. The entrance holes to 
the nests of the last named species were not so nicely finished, not so symmetrical as 
those of their near relatives. These holes were roughly circular, and not crowded 
together, but scattered at irregular intervals along the embankment. The cavity which 
is also built in a rather slovenly way, is not very deep. The nest is usually placed 
about a foot from the entrance and is constructed of grasses, and in the vicinity of 
dwellings feathers of domestic fowl enter largely into the composition. The eggs, four 
to six in number, are pure white, closely resembling those of the Bank Swallow. 
In conclusion I quote the following account from Dr. T. M. Brewer’s writings: 
“This species was first found breeding in Carlisle, Penn., by Professor Baird, in 
the summer of 1843. The following year I visited the locality early in June, and had 
an opportunity to study its habits during the breeding season. We found the bird 
rather common, and examined a number of their nests. None that we met with were 
in places excavated by the birds, although previously several had been found that had 
apparently been excavated in banks in the same manner with the Bank Swallow. All 
the nests (seven in number) that we then met with, were in situations excellently 
adapted to their need, and all were directly over running water. Some were constructed 
‘in crevices between the stones in the walls and arches of bridges. In several instances 
the nests were but little above the surface of the stream. In one, the first laying had 
been flooded, and the eggs chilled. The birds had constructed another nest above the 
first one, in which were six fresh eggs, as many as in the other. One nest had been 
built between the stones of the wall that formed one of the sides of the flume of a mill. 
Two feet above it was a frequented footh-path, and, at the same distance below, the 
water of the mill-stream. Another nest was between the boards of a small building in 
which revolved a water-wheel. The entrance to it was through a knot-hole in the 
outer partition, and the nest rested on a small rafter between the outer and the inner 
boardings. The nests were similar in their construction to those of the Bank Swallow, 
composed of dry grasses, straws, and. leaves, and lined with a few feathers; but a 
much greater amount of material was made use of, owing, perhaps, to the exposed 
positions in which they were built.” 
NAMES: RovucH-wINceD SWALLow, Rough-wing.—Grauschwalbe (German). 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: WHirundo serripennis Aud. (1838). Cotyle serripennis Boie (1844). STELGIDOP- 
TERYX SERRIPENNIS Baird (1865). 
DESCRIPTION: ‘Resembling the Bank Swallow in general aspect; no tuft of feathers on tarsus; outer web 
of first primary rough and serrated, the vane being converted into a series of stiff recurved hooks. 
Above, brownish-gray; below, paler, whitening ‘on. the belly. 
“A little larger than the Bank Swallow.” (5. & CN. EL B.L. I, p. 187.) 
The Banama Honey CREEPER, Certhiola bahamensis REICH., enters our territory 
from the Bahamas on the Keys of the south-eastern coast of Florida. 
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