322 SWALLOWS. 



reeds with great regularity every night, and early in the morning fly 

 out over the country to feed. Their flight in the evening is com- 

 paratively low, at an average height of thirty to forty feet. They sail 

 about in circles more than other Swallows, and many pause to rest 

 on telegraph wires, where their pure white breasts easily distinguish 

 them from the Swallows which may be associated with them. In the 

 morning their flight is much higher and more direct. They migrate 

 by day, leaving their roosting ground in flocks, which sometimes con- 

 tain myriads, and, after attaining a great height, pursue their journey 

 to the south. When migrating along the coast they sometimes collect 

 in large numbers in bayberry bushes {Myrica cerifera) and feed on 

 their fruit. 



The Bahama Swallow {615.1. CalUchelidon eyaneomridis) has been once 

 recorded from the Dry Tortugas, Florida, and may occur more or lees regularly 

 in the keys off southeastern Florida (Scott, Auk, vii, 1890, p. 265). 



616. CUvicola riparia {Linn.). Bank Swallow, ^d.— Upper 

 parts brownish gray; throat wliite; a brownish gray band on the breast; 

 outer vane of first primary without recurved booklets; a small tuft of feathers 

 above the hind toe. L., 5-20 ; W"., 3-95 ; T., 2'00 ; B. from N., -18. 



Range. — North America, north to Labrador and Alaska; breeds locally 

 throughout its rar\ge ; winters as far south as Brazil. 



"Washington, common S. E., more conmion T. V., Apl. 15 to Sept. 25. 

 Sing Sing, common S. E., Apl. 18 to Oct. 1. Cambridge, common S. E., Apl. 

 28 to Sept. 1. 



Nest, of grasses and feathers, in a hole in a sand bank, two to three feet 

 from the entrance. Eggs, four to six, white, -68 x -48. 



This is a locally distributed species breeding in colonies only where 

 sand banks offer it a favorable nesting site. Probably for the reason 

 that such banks are more frequently found bordering streams than 

 inland, the birds are more numerous in the vicinity of water. 



Bank Swallows may be readily known from other Swallows, except- 

 ing the Rough-winged, by their nesting habits, small size, and absence 

 of metallic coloring. 



Prom the Rough-wing they differ in having the under parts white, 

 with a conspicuous band across the breast, and in their somewhat 

 quicker movements. 



617. Stel^dopteryz serripennls (^«t2.). Eouqh-winged Swal- 

 low. Ad. — Upper parte brownish gray ; throat and breast pale brownish 

 gray; belly white; outer web of lii-st primary with a series of recurved 

 hoohlets ; no tuft of feathers above the hind toe. 7m.— Similar, but without 

 recurved booklets on the first primary ; throat and breast more or less washed 

 and wing-coverts edged with rufous. L., 5-75; W., 4-35; T., 2-10: B. from 

 N., -19. 



