228 WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW. 



white, instead of light chestnut ; these parts are also slightly clouded 

 with rufous ; and the exterior tail feathers are shorter. 



These birds are easily tamed, and soon become exceedingly gentle 

 and familiar. I have frequently kept them in my room for several days 

 at a time, where they employed themselves in catching flies, picking 

 them from my clothes, hair, &c., calling out occasionally as they ob- 

 served some of their old companions passing the windows. 



Species III. HIRUNDO YIRIDIS* 



WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW. 



[Plate XXXVIII. Fig. 3.] 



This is the species hitherto supposed by Europeans to be the same 

 with their common Martin, Hirundo urhica, a bird nowhere to be found 

 within the United States. The English Martin is blue black above ; the 

 present species greenish blue ; the former has the whole rump white, 

 and the legs and feet are covered with short white downy feathers ; the 

 latter has nothing of either. That ridiculous propensity in foreign 

 writers, to consider most of our birds as varieties of their own, has led 

 them into many mistakes, which it shall be the business of the author 

 of the present work to point out, decisively, wherever he may meet with 

 them. 



The White-bellied Swallow arrives in Pennsylvania a few days later 

 than the preceding species. It often takes possession of an apartment 

 in the boxes appropriated to the Purple Martin ; and also frequently 

 builds and hatches in a hollow tree. The nest consists of fine loose dry 

 grass, lined with large downy feathers, rising above its surface, and so 

 placed as to curl inwards and completely conceal the eggs. These last 

 are usually four or five in number, and pure white. They also have 

 two broods in the season. 



The voice of this species is low and guttural : they are more disposed 

 to quarrel than the Barn Swallows, frequently fighting in the air for a 

 quarter of an hour at a time, particularly in spring, all the while keep- 

 ing up a low rapid chatter. They also sail more in flying ; but during 

 the breeding season frequent the same situations in quest of similar 

 food. They inhabit the northern Atlantic states as far as the district 

 of Maine, where I have myself seen them ; and my friend Mr. Gardiner 

 informs me, that they are found on the coast of Long Island and its 



• Hirundo hicolor, Vieill. Ois. de VAm. Sept. pL 31. 



