BANK SWALLOW OR SAND MARTIN. 187 



between species supposed by some to be different, and by others identical. To 

 give you some definite idea of what I would here impress upon your mind, 

 I need only say that I have seen nests of the Barn or Chimney Swallow 

 placed within buildings, under cattle-sheds, against the sides of wells, and in 

 chimneys; that while some were not more than three inches deep, others 

 measured nearly nine; while in some there was scarcely any grass, in others 

 it formed nearly half of their bulk. I have also observed some nests of the 

 Cliff Swallow in which the eggs had been deposited before the pendent neck 

 was added, and which remained so until the birds had reared their brood, 

 amidst other nests furnished with a neck, which was much longer in some 

 than in others. From this I have inferred that nests are formed more or 

 less completely, in many instances, in accordance with the necessity under 

 which the bird may be of depositing its eggs. 



Hirundo thalassinus, Swains. Syn. of Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag. for 1827, p. 365. 

 Violet-green Swallow, Hirundo thalassina, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 597. 



Bill narrower than in the preceding species; wings extremely long, ex- 

 tending far beyond the tail, which is emarginate. Upper part of head deep 

 green, gradually shaded into the dark purple of the hind neck; back rich 

 grass-green, rump and upper tail-coverts carmine purple; a line over the eye, 

 cheeks, and all the lower parts pure white, excepting the wing-coverts, which 

 are light grey. Female with the upper part of the head and hind neck light 

 greyish-brown, glossed with green; the back as in the male, the rump 

 greyish-brown; lower parts white, anteriorly tinged with grey. 



Male, 4|f , wing 4 T \. 



BANK SWALLOW OR SAND MARTIN. 



"VHirtjndo riparia, Linn. 



PLATE L. — Male, Female, and Young. 



Imagine, reader, how delighted I was when, in East Florida, in the winter 

 of 1831, I found thousands of Bank Swallows gaily skimming over the 

 waters, and along the shores of the rivers and inlets. So numerous indeed 

 were they that I felt inclined to think that the greater part of those which 

 are in summer dispersed over the United States, and the regions still farther 

 north, must have congregated to form those vast swarms. The first time I 



