BANK SWALLOW. 



47 



spring, from which they take refuge in their holes, clustering toge- 

 ther for warmth, and have been frequently found at such times in 

 almost a lifeless state with the cold; which circumstance has con- 

 tributed to the belief that they lie torpid all winter in these recesses. 

 I have searched hundreds of these holes in the months of Decem- 

 ber and January, but never found a single Swallow, dead, living, 

 or torpid. I met with this bird in considerable numbers on the 

 shores of the Kentucky river, between Lexington and Danville. 

 They likewise visit the sea shore, in great numbers, previous to 

 their departure, which continues from the last of September to the 

 middle of October. 



The Bank Swallow is five inches long, and ten inches in ex- 

 tent; upper parts mouse colored, lower white, with a band of dusky 

 brownish across the upper part of the breast; tail forked, the ex- 

 terior feather slightly edged with whitish; lores and bill black; 

 legs with a few tufts of downy feathers behind; claws fine pointed 

 and very sharp; over the eye a streak of whitish; lower side of 

 the shafts white; wings and tail darker than the body. The fe- 

 male differs very little from the male. 



This bird appears to be in nothing different from the Eu- 

 ropean species ; from which circumstance, and its early arrival 

 here, I would conjecture that it passes to a high northern latitude 

 on both continents. 



