176 THE WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW. 



mention the periods of its arrival or departure. In all parts of the country 

 which are well wooded, it was, until lately, in the constant habit of breeding 

 in the hollows of trees; now, however, this is not so much the case, as will 

 be seen from the following note of Dr. Thomas M. Brewer of Boston: — 

 "The Hirundo bicolor arrives in New England the last of April or the 

 first of May, and is principally occupied, preparatory to breeding, with 

 obstinate contests with its own species, as well as with the Blue-bird, the 

 Wren, and the Barn Swallow. In the vicinity of Boston, since the destruc- 

 tion of the Purple Martins already mentioned, they have taken their places, 

 building in the boxes, jars, &c. originally intended for their relatives, so 

 much so, that in this vicinity they are not now known to breed at all in the 

 hollow trees; a change of habit very unusual, if not wholly unexampled. So 

 much do they prefer their present mode of breeding, that I have known 

 them to build in a rude candle-box, of which one side had been knocked out, 

 placed upon the top of the house. In the first part of August, they collect 

 in large flocks about ten days before their departure for warmer climates. 

 During that time they are to be seen in great quantities flying around and 

 over the houses in Boston in quest of insects." 



My friend Dr. Bachman says, "On the afternoon of the 16th of October, 

 1833, in company with Dr. Wilson and Mr. John Woodhouse Audubon, 

 I saw such an immense quantity of this species of birds that the air was 

 positively darkened. As far as the eye could reach, there were Swallows 

 crowded thickly together, and winging their way southward; there must 

 have been many millions!" 



Green-blue or White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo viridis, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 44. 



Hirundo bicolor, Bonap. Syn., p. G5. 



White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo bicolor, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 605. 



White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo bicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 491; vol. v. p. 417. 



Wings a little longer than the tail, which is deeply emarginate. Upper 

 parts steel-blue, with green reflections, lower white; feet flesh coloured. 

 Female similar to the male. 



Male, 5^ inches long, 10 in extent of wings. 



