FULVOUS OR CLIFF SWALLOW. 193 



tucky, &c., whence they are extending very rapidly, and have recently 

 appeared in the western part of New York. In order to show the rapid 

 progress of this little stranger, we quote the following passage from Mr. 

 Clinton's interesting paper. 



The Fulvous Swallow " first made its appearance at Winchell's tavern, 

 on the high road, about five miles south of Whitehall, near Lake 

 Champlain, and erected its nest under the eaves of an out-house, where 

 it was covered by the projection of a roof. This was in 1817, and in 

 this year there was but one nest ; the second year seven ; the third 

 twenty-eight ; the fourth forty ; and in 1822 there were seventy, and 

 the number has since continued to increase." 



" It appeared in 1822 at Whitehall, on the fifth of June, and departed 

 on the twenty-fifth of July ; and these are the usual times of its arrival 

 and disappearance." 



This active little bird is, like its congeners, almost continually on the 

 wing, and feeds on flies and other insects, while performing its aerial 

 evolutions. Their note is different from that of other Swallows, and 

 may be well imitated by rubbing a moistened cork around in the neck 

 of a bottle. The species arrive in the west from the south early in 

 April, and immediately begin to construct their symmetrical nests, 

 which are perfected by their united and industrious efforts. At the 

 dawn of day they commence their labors, by collecting the necessary 

 mud from the borders of the river or ponds adjacent, and they persevere 

 in their work until near mid-day, when they relinquish it for some hours, 

 and amuse themselves by sporting in the air, pursuing insects, &c. As 

 soon as the nest acquires the requisite firmness it is completed, and the 

 female begins to deposit her eggs, which are four in number, white, 

 spotted with dusky brown. The nests are extremely friable, and will 

 readily crumble to pieces : they are assembled in communities, as repre- 

 sented in the back-ground of our plate. In unsettled countries these 

 birds select a sheltered situation, under a projecting ledge of rock ; and, 

 in civilized districts, they have already evinced a predilection for the 

 abodes of man, by building against the walls of houses, immediately 

 under the eaves of the roof, though they have not in the least changed 

 their style of architecture. A nest from the latter situation is now 

 before me ; it is hemispherical, five inches wide at its truncated place 

 of attachment to the wall, from which it projects six inches, and con- 

 sists exclusively of a mixture of sand and clay, lined on the inside with 

 straw and dried grass, negligently disposed for the reception of the eggs. 

 The whole external surface is roughened by the projection of the various 

 little pellets of earth which compose its substance. The entrance is near 

 the top, rounded, projecting and turning downward, so that the nest 

 may be compared to a chemist's retort, flattened on the side applied to 

 the wall, and with the principal part of the neck broken off. 

 Vol. IIL— 13 



