CHAPTER IV. 

 Family Hirundinidae. Swallows^ "■ 



The Swallows constitute a perfectly natur; 

 group; and represent among Oscines, the fissi) 

 ostral type of structure. Their resemblance, t 

 the CypselidcB and Caprimulgidts is one of analog 

 rather than affinity, though these birds were fpi 

 merly placed in the artificial "order" Fissirostre 

 It is estirnated that one hundred species ,( 

 Swallows are recorded, many of which are pre 

 bably not genuine. They are universally distr 

 buted, some of them like Hirundo, being more o 

 less cosmopolitan; each of the grand divisions ( 

 the globe possesses its particular subgenera; a 

 the American groups, with the exception c 

 Hi-rundo and Cotyle being peculiar to this cor 

 tinent. 



Formerly, Swallows bred in hollows of trees, i 

 banks on cliffs, and like places, which is the custor 

 with many yet; but the majority have abandone 

 their primitive haunts for the artificial nestin: 

 places provided purposely, or otherwise, by mai 

 Some. at present are in a transition state; for ex 

 ample, the Purple Martin which* still clings to it 

 old habits of breeding in hollow trees in ou 

 Western States; while here it avails itself of th 

 boxes which are provided for its accommodatioi 



