104 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



Cedar Waxwing 



breeding season (May to August), in small flocks, and when 



on the wing fly 

 close together in a 

 straight line on 

 about a level with 

 the tree tops. They 

 are chatterers 

 rather than singers. 

 (Cedar-bird ; Cher- 

 ry-bird.) 



Length, 7| ; wing, 

 3| (3|-3|); tail, 21; 

 tarsus, f ; culmen, |. 

 North A merica ; breed- 

 ing from Virginia and Kansas northward (farther south in the moun- 

 tains), and wintering throughout the United States south to Central 

 America. 



FAMILY XL SWALLOWS (HIRUNDINID^) 



This family comprises eighty species of long-winged, small 

 birds. They spend most of the time in the air in pursuit of 

 their food, which consists almost entirely of insects. Many 

 have forked tails ; few have colors other than black and 

 white ; many have glossy, and some, iridescent plu- 

 mage. On account of their weak, small feet, they 

 usually perch on very slender twigs, or by prefer- 

 ence on telegraph wires. The top of the bill is very 

 short, but the moitth is both wide and deep, reaching about to 

 the eyes."^ 



Key to the Species 



Purple Martin, or 2. Cuban Martin. 



* Wing over 5 long 1. 



* Wing, 5 or less long. (A.) 



A. Tail, 3 or more long, the notch more than an inch deep ; the under 

 tail feathers with white blotches ; throat chestnut ; back lustrous 



steel-blue 4. Barn Swallow. 



A. Tail, 2] or less long; back with metallic luster. (C.) 

 A. Tail, 2| or less long ; back brownish, without luster. (B). 

 B. Breast brownish ; belly and throat white 6. Bank Swallow. 



