113 



HIRUNDO. Linneeus. Swallows. 



65. H. ERYTHROGASTRA. Coues. Barn Swallow. Lustrous steel blue 

 pale chestnut below ; throat and forehead deep chestnut ; an imperfect steel blue 

 collar; tail very deeply forked; L. 7; W. 5; T. 4)^. Breeding in colonies about 

 barns. Nests in pellets of mud in layers, with hay between. Often an extra plat- 

 form is made close to the nest as a roosting place for the parents. 



TACHYCINETA. Cabanis. 



66. T. BICOLOR. (Vieill.) Coues. White-bellied Swallow. Lustrous green ; 

 pure white below ; female duller ; L. 6i,^ ; W. 5; T. 22^. Abundant about water ; 

 nests in holes in trees and stumps, rarely in boxes ; uses no mud. T. thalassina is 

 a western species. 



PETROCHELIDON. Cabanis. 



67. P. LUNIFRONS. (Say.) Cab. Cliff Szvalloiv. Eave Swallow. Lustrous 

 steel blue ; forehead, sides of head, throat and rump of various shades of chestnut ; 

 a blue spot on breast; belly whitish; L. 51^ ; W. 4^ ; T. -i)/^. An abundant mi- 

 grant and resident. It formerly nested in cliffs, but now under the eaves of barns' 

 dwellings, etc. The nests are made of pellets of mud or clay rolled into shape in 

 the swallow's mouth. The nest is cup shaped, or even retort shape, with an elon. 

 gated neck. They take to eaves for protection. "The birds' instinct — say, rather,^ 

 reason — teaches them to come in out of the rain." 



COTYLE. Bale. 



68. C. RIPARIA. (L.) Baie. Bank Swalloiu. Sand Martin. Dark gray^ 

 not iridescent ; white below ; a brown shade across the breast ; L. 4^ ; W. 4 ; T. 2. 

 An abundant summer resident ; nesting in holes in sand banks. A cosmopolite ;. 

 found in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. 



ST EL GID OPTER YX. Baird. 



69. S. SERRIPENNIS. (Aud.) Bd. Rough-ivinged Swallow. Brownish 

 gray ; outer web of first primary more or less saw-like, with a series of minute 

 recurved hooks, which are weaker in the female. L. 7^ ; W. 6 ; T. 31^. A 

 summer resident, common south and central ; rare visitant to Northern Indiana. 

 Nests like the preceding, which it resembles superficially, in holes in river banks, 

 and even in knotholes and stone walls. They rarely dig holes for their nest, pre- 

 ferring those already formed. 



It is interesting to note that this species, like all of its tribe, except the bank swal- 

 low, which still retains its primitive habits, makes use of holes in masonry for its 

 nests, thus paying its compliment to human civilization. 



PROGNE. Baie. 



70. PROGNE SUBIS. (L.) Bd. /'«<;^/^ il/a^T^m. Lustrous blue-black through- 

 out; female duller, whitish and streaky below ; bill stout, almost hooked. L. 7 j^ ; 

 W. 6 ; T. 31^. A very common summer resident ; arrives early in April ; goes south 

 the first of September. No American bird is better known. Where it can find no 

 boxes it nests in hollow trees or the holes made by woodpeckers. They drive the 



8 — HORT. Soc. 



