BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 205 



Common resident from early in April to about the middle of Au- 

 gust ; they arrive in spring, singly, in pairs or small flocks. Late iu 

 August these birds collect in flocks (numbering sometimes several 

 hundred each), which for a brief period linger about meadows along 

 rivers or other large bodies of water, and then wend their way south- 

 ward. Since the advent of the prolific English Sparrow, Martins have 

 abandoned many of their nesting-places in towns and cities. Dr. 

 John R. Everhart, of -West Chester, Pa., appreciating that his flock of 

 chattering Martins was rapidly diminishing before the advances of the 

 Sparrows, some few years ago erected in his yard a large pole with 

 cross-pieces, from which were suspended, by brass wire chains, each 

 about eighteen inches long, a number of boxes, in which the Martins, 

 also Wrens and Blue-birds, nest without any trouble from their com- 

 mon feathered enemy. The swaying motion of these pendent boxes 

 appears to frighten the Sparrows, as not one has ever been observed 

 to alight on or enter them. 



u The Martin differs from all the rest of our Swallows in the partic- 

 ular prey which he selects. Wasps, bees, beetles, particularly those 

 called by boys Goldsmiths, seem his favorite game. I have taken 

 four of these large beetles from the stomach of a Purple Martin, each 

 of which seemed entire, and even unbruised." Wilson. 



GENUS PETROCHELIDON. CABANIS. 

 612. Petrochelidon lunifrons (SAY.). 



Cliff Swallow. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length about 5| ; extent about 12 inches ; tail nearly even or very slightly forked ; 

 bill black ; legs and eyes brown ; top and back of head, back and a spot on throat 

 lustrous blue-black ; wings and tail blackish, slightly glossed ; grayish-brown band 

 on hind neck ; forehead white or light-brown ; chin, throat and sides of head dark 

 chestnut, rump same, but lighter ; breast brownish-yellow, whitening on the belly. 

 Sexes similar ; the young, although generally duller in colors, greatly resemble the 

 adults. 



Hab. North America at large, and south to Brazil and Paraguay. 



Common summer resident; generally distributed throughout the 

 State. Breeds mostly in colonies of from twenty to forty individuals ; 

 sometimes, however, as many as fifty or seventy-five nests are found 

 together. Although I have known these birds to breed, for three con- 

 secutive seasons, under the eaves of long sheds in a cow-yard, I am 

 inclined to think that they usually breed but one season in the same 

 place. The Cliff Swallow arrives here about the last week in April 

 and disappears early in September. This bird when flying can easily 

 be distinguished from other swallows by its almost even tail feathers 



