260 THE BIRDS 
south to southern California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, 
and Virginia; migrates through Mexico and Central 
America (casually West. Indies), and probably winters 
in South America to Brazil and Peru. 
This species is somewhat similar to the following one, 
although it is not as common throughout our area. It 
arrives along with the Rough-winged Swallow, April 1st, 
and departs about August Ist. They prefer the inland 
banks for nesting sites, such as railway cuts and around 
ponds and lakes, thus their homes are more secluded than 
the Rough-winged Swallow, which prefers the open river 
bank. One can easily identify their nesting cavities, for 
the Bank Swallow makes a round hole, while the Rough- 
winged makes an elongated hole, the greatest width 
horizontally. The nest is composed of fine straws and 
dry grass, lined with finer grass and sometimes feathers. 
This is placed at the end of a burrow dug by the birds, 
from two to three feet back in the bank, the end slightly 
enlarged and deepened to hold the nest and afford room 
for the birds. Four to six eggs are laid; May 5th to 10th 
finds full sets. Size of eggs, .70x.49; a dull white, 
unmarked. The birds procure all their food while on the 
wing, which differs little from that of the Rough-winged 
Swallow. They probably procure more gnats and 
mcsquitoes than the following species, as these are always 
more numerous around their inland habitat than along 
the open river bank. Many are killed by the soft embank- 
ments caving during wet weather, as well as by snakes 
catching them on the nest. While they are not an 
abundant bird with us, they undoubtedly do much good 
in helping to keep down some of our local pests. 
