SWALLOWS. 71 



Bam Swallow. Eirundo erythrogastra. 



The barn swallow is a common migrant in Arkansas, but occurs in 

 the breeding season only rarely and locally. Spring migration occurs 

 from about the first of April to the middle of May and the fall move- 

 ment takes place chiefly during August and September. I noted the 

 species in small numbers in migration at TurreU May 9, Stuttgart 

 May 12 to 14, and Arkansas City May 15. Preble saw one at Fayette- 

 ville September 23. The only report of its breeding in the State is at 

 Clinton, in 1890. Like the cliff swallcJw, this swallow has been found 

 to be very useful in destroying boll weevils in fall. Of 14 birds col- 

 lected in Texas in September, 5 had eaten a total of 52 weevUs. 



Tree Swallow. Iridoprocne bicolor. 



This species is a common migrant in the Mississippi Valley, passing 

 northward at intervals during March, April, and early May, and 

 southward in late September and October. On the St. Francis Kiver, 

 north of Bertig, I saw a flock of about 50 of these swallows April 30, 

 1909, and the next day at Kennett, Mo., saw a flock of more than 

 a thousand feeding over fields near the river. Preble found the 

 species common at Fort Smith betweeei September 15 and 23 (1892). 

 Widmann records it as a rare summer resident as far south in Mis- 

 souri as the southern border of Dunklin County. Mr. Widmann 

 writes me that in May, 1894, he found a nest with eggs in a stump in 

 the middle of the St. Francis Eiver, about a mile south of Bertig. 

 The bird probably occurs occasionally, therefore, as a breeder in the 

 Sunken Lands of northeastern Arkansas. 



Bank Sw^allow. Riparia ripar-ia. 



The bank swaUow is an abundant migrant and a locaUy common 

 summer resident. It is with some difficulty distinguished in flight 

 from the rough-winged swallow, which often nests in banks but 

 never in large colonies as does the bank swaUow. The present spe- 

 cies breeds commonly at Helena. In some seasons as many as 300 

 nest holes have been observed there by Mrs. Stephenson. The birds 

 arrive usually about the first of April (earliest date, March 26) and 

 depart during August and September. 



This swaUow is reported, also, to breed along the Mississippi in the 

 vicinity of Hopefield.' There are no other positive breeding records 

 for the State, and I failed to find the species during my 1910 trip. 

 Like the other members of its family, it feeds upon various winged 

 insects, including the boll weevil. 



Bough-winged Swallow. Stelgidopteryx serripennis. 



The roughwing occurs as a fairly common migrant and summer 

 resident. It nests both in cut banks and in cliffs, usually only a few 

 pairs in a locaUty. Migrants from the south arrive at Helena about 



1 Hay, O. «>., Bull. Nuttall Omith. Club, VH, p. 91, 1882. 



