The Rough-winged Swallow 
to prevent forcible abduction, but no one knows of a possible enemy 
which might be circumvented in this way. 
Again, the Rough-winged Swallow has a steadier, rather more 
labored flight than that of its foil. Its aerial course is more dignified, 
leisurely, less impulsive and erratic. In nesting, although it may include 
the range of the Sand Martin, or even nest side by side with it, it has 
a wider latitude for choice and is not hampered by local tradition. If 
it burrows in a bank it is quite as likely to dig near the bottom as the 
top. Crevices in masonry, in dobe walls, or stone quarries, crannies 
and abutments of bridges, or even (it is said, although I am very skep¬ 
tical) holes in trees, are utilized. Unlike the Bank Swallows, the Rough- 
wings do not colonize to any great extent, but are rather solitary. Fav¬ 
orable conditions may attract several pairs to a given spot, as a gravel 
pit, but when together they are little given to community functions. 
In open country, where the cover is scarce but the food supply attractive, 
I have found them nesting along irrigating ditches with banks not over 
two feet high. Conditions for nesting sites are very favorable in Cali¬ 
fornia, by reason of the steep-walled barrancas which abound along the 
Taken in Oregon 
Photo by Finley & Bohlman 
BABY ROUGH-WINGS 
53i 
