LAND BIRDS. 553 
points outside the southern fourth of the state. It arrives from the south 
at about the same time as the Bank Swallow, possibly a little later, and 
departs in autumn somewhat earlier, probably between the middle and 
last of August. 
Its close resemblance to the Bank Swallow has doubtless prevented its 
recognition in many places, yet in spite of everything we cannot suppose 
that it is abundant anywhere. Mr. Swales stated in 1904 that he knew 
of but one breeding resort in southeastern Michigan, where a few pairs 
occupied a sand bluff in connection with Bank Swallows. During the 
past few years, however, both Swales and Taverner have found this species 
fairly common in different places in Wayne and Monroe counties. Mr. 
Taverner wrote in 1908: “I have found the Rough-winged Swallow 
surprisingly common lately. I suppose that heretofore it has been over- 
looked, but now that I can pick it out I am finding it in several places.” 
Dr. Wolcott found it breeding in small numbers in crevices in a brick block, 
in Grand Rapids, by the river. We have one specimen in the college collec- 
tion which was taken in Barry county, and we have a set of five eggs taken 
at Kalamazoo June 9, 1888. Two pairs were found buildings nests in the 
bank of the Red Cedar river on the College campus, Ingham county, May 7, 
1905, but they were disturbed by the dumping of rubbish over the bank 
and abandoned the place. Swallows had nested regularly in this bank 
for several years previously, but no specimens were taken and they may 
have been Bank Swallows. Mr. 8. E. White found a single specimen dead, 
in July 1890, at Mackinac Island, and this appears to be the northernmost 
record for the state. 
In Wisconsin it appears to be abundant, since it is stated to be the 
common breeding bank swallow which is found scattered over most of the 
state. “It is usually found nesting in single pairs, or not more than two to 
four pairs in a single bank; whereas the bank Swallow nests in large 
colonies.’”’** Aside from the color differences given above several points 
are useful in discriminating between the two species. The Rough-wings 
often nest in crevices in masonry, for example, in holes in a brick wall 
or in the chinks of a bridge pier, and when they nest in a sand bank or clay 
bank rarely more than three or four nests are found in the same bank. 
Sometimes a few pairs nest with a large colony of Bank Swallows, and in 
this case their burrows, according to Butler,f are likely to be placed singly 
and a little apart from the others. The Rough-wings are also said to build 
much better nests than the Bank Swallows and their flight is slower and 
more even, with fewer twists and zigzags, and more gliding and sailing. 
The eggs are three to six, pure white, unspotted and average .72 by .51 
inches. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Tail emarginate or slightly forked, the outer feather not more than one-fourth inch longer 
than the middle pair; adult always with outer edge of outer primary roughened by the 
recurved and hooked tips of the barbs. 
Adult (sexes alike): Upper parts uniform grayish brown; wings and tail a darker shade 
of the same, sometimes nearly blackish toward the tips of the feathers; tertiaries often 
edged with lighter gray; chin, throat, breast and sides light brownish-gray; belly and under 
tail-coverts white; bill and feet blackish; iris brown. Young: Similar to adult, but whole 
plumage more or less washed with brownish, the tertiaries and secondaries tipped and 
edged with pale reddish-brown or cinnamon. 
Length 5 to 5.75 inches; wing 4 to 4.70; tail 2.05 to 2.35. 
*Kumlien & Hollister, Birds of Wisconsin, p. 106. 
+ Birds of Indiana, 1897, p. 999. 
