NATURE STUDY IN SCHOOLS. 



115 



ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. 



Size, rather small, a little larger the bank swallow, or about five and 

 one-half inches long, Tail, slightly forked. Color, above, uniform smoky 

 brown, bsnsath, white, with throat, neck, and sides, pale brown. The outer 

 webs of the outer pair of primaries are provided with hooks which curve 

 forward, giving the wing a rough appearance, whence the name of the swal- 

 low. See Fig. 61, C, h, h. May 1 to Sept. 1. Southern Conn., south- 

 ward and westward in the U. S. 



Fig. 61. 



Rough-winged Swallow. A. head; B, upper mandible ; C, portion of outer feather of wing enlarged 

 8, shaft of feather ; w, web ; H, H, hooks; T>, foot of Bank Swallow; T, tuft of feathers. 



Flight, rather heavy and fluttering. Song, a low, twittering warble. 

 Eggs, white, unspotted. 



The nests of the rough- winged swallows, as far as my experience with 

 the species extends, are placed in deserted kingfishers' holes, or in those of 

 the bank swallow made the previous year. Sometimes a cavity in a stone 

 bridge pier is chosen, or a hole beneath the eaves of a building, but I think 

 that the rough- wing rarely excavates a hole for itself. 



The following is a synopsis of our swallows arranged according to form 

 of the tail, color, flight and size so that they may be recognized when on 

 the wing. 



Tail, most deeply forked. Flight, most graceful. Beneath, reddish. 

 Size, medium. Barn Swallow. 



