LAND BIRDS. 551 
of the orange groves of Florida and caused the death of myriads of birds 
belonging to many different species. 
According to Bicknell ‘The song is hardly more than a chatter, and is 
heard as late in the year as the bird is with us. Its ordinary notes are less 
sharp and rapid than those of the Barn Swallow.” 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Tail emarginate or slightly forked, the outer feather not half an inch longer than the 
middle pair. 
Adult (sexes alike): Entire upper parts (except wings and tail) deep metallic steel- 
blue, varying to blue-green; entire under parts pure white, except that the blue of the back 
sometimes encroaches on the sides of the breast just in front of the bend of the wing; wings 
and tail clear black, or with faint greenish reflections, without white markings; bill and 
feet black; iris brown. Adult female usually just like the male, sometimes duller. Adults 
in late autumn and winter have the tertiaries edged with clear white. Young: Slaty 
or brownish black above, without metallic gloss; under parts often grayish white. 
Length 5 to 6.25 inches; wing 4.50 to 4.80; tail 2.30 to 2.50. 
249. Bank Swallow. Riparia riparia (Linn.). (616) 
Synonyms: Sand Swallow, Sand Martin, Bank Martin.—Hirundo riparia, Linn., 1758, 
Wils., Nutt., Aud.—Cotyle riparia, Bonap.; 1838.—Cotile riparia, Boie, 1822, and many 
subsequent writers.—Clivicola riparia, Stejn., 1882, A. O. U. Check-list, 1886.—Riparia 
riparia, Jordan, 1884. 
Figure 127. 
Smallest of our swallows; sexes alike. Brownish gray above, without 
any metallic luster; below pure white, except for a brownish-gray band 
across the chest and often a central spot of the same color just back of this 
band. Tail slightly emarginate—hardly forked. (Fig. 127). 
Distribution.—Northern Hemisphere; in America, south to the West 
Indies, Central America, northern South America; breeding from the 
middle districts of the United States northward to about the limit of trees. 
This well known little swallow is abundant throughout the state and is 
constantly to be seen about its nesting places in sand banks from the time 
of its arrival late in April until its departure in Septem- 
ber. Apparently it rears but one brood each summer, 
but it is subject to many troubles and undoubtedly 
many pairs are compelled to make several attempts 
before they succeed in rearing a family, so that occupied 
burrows may be found frequently as late as the middle 
of July, although young are on the wing by the first of 
that month. While this species seems to have a 
preference for the borders of streams, lakes and other 
bodies of water, yet it often selects for a nesting place a railroad cut or 
sand pit a long distance from any water, but in such cases it runs the risk 
in dry seasons of being unable to supply its young with a sufficient 
amount of food. 
Its nests are placed in burrows in sand banks, these burrows being 
usually at some distance from the foot of the bank, often only one or two 
feet fromthe top. They may be straight, elbowed to right or left, or curved, 
but the entrance is usually lower than the inner end, and although the eggs 
are sometimes laid on the bare sand, there is oftener a more or less elaborate 
nest of grasses, leaves and feathers. The eggs are three to six, pure 
a 
Fig. 127. 
Tail of Bank Swallow. 
