MRIXS OF CHAUTArQUA ('OT^XTY. 



Hinmdo eryfhrogastra, The B<irn Swallow is also very common, 

 Its nest is fUwavs inside and usually attached to a beam or rafter oi 

 a barn or similar structure. 



Tachyinefa hu-ohr, The White-bellied Swallow is not common ex- 

 cept locally. It nests in bir<]-boxes like the Martin. 



CoUjle npar,'a, The Bank Swallow, Ground Swallow or Sand Mar- 

 tin is not uncommon. Its nest is placed in a hole several feet in 

 length, excavated by thcbn*d,in a bank of fiesh earth, usually the 

 bank of a creek. The swallows all anive about the middle of April 

 or a little later. 



Pipramgn rnhra, The Scarlet Tanager, about the size of the blue- 

 bird, is perhaps our riiost brilliant forest bird. It is bright scarlet ex- 

 cept the wings and tail, wdiich are black. It arrives early in May 

 and is a summer resident, but not verv common. 



The FringilMdae, or Finches, are a large and interesting family. 

 They may bo distinguished by their thick, strong bills. Nearly all 

 of them are singers of greater or less ability, and many of them aie 

 among our most delightful vricalists. They are most 1}^ biids of the 

 field, rather than of the forest As a rule they are plaiidy colored; 

 yet there are marked exceptions. I have made the acquaintance of 

 seventeen of them, aslollov\s: 



Carpodaevs fyrpnrevH, The Purple Finch, or Sinnet, has a very 

 vigorously warbled song, which it sometimes pours forth almost un- 

 ceasingly for hours. It is common, arriving from the South in 

 March. 



Asfragali)tvs f'nMi.% The American Goldfincli, Yellow-bird or 

 Thistle-bird, though not much given to rendering it, has a beautfnl 

 song. Even his^-scuiast-m^diiaaj^^ apparent 



good nature that cannot tail to make him a favorite. It usually ap- 

 pears in April in small numbers, though there is little certainty 

 about the time of its coming. It sometimes remains nearly all win- 

 ter. Although an early arrival, it does not build its nest till several 

 weeks later in the season than other birds. As the reason of this, 

 it has been suggested, that they wait for the thistle sc^eds, which 

 largely form the diet of the young birds. 



Pkcfrophanefimvalis, The Snow Bunting, is a not very common 

 winter visitor. 



Passercjdus sandicichensis Savanna, The Savanna Sparrow is a 

 rarely noticed though not uncomnum species. With sevenil other 

 plainly divssed little birds it is carelessly called "Ground Bird" by the 

 inattentive observer. 



