THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
105 
migrant. Recorded as nesting at Racine for the first time in 
1852 (Hoy). In June, 1861, it was nesting in some numbers 
on bains in Sauk County (Thure Kumlien), and became com- 
mon in Jefferson County in 1866. In 1845 it was nesting 
abundantly on the cliffs at Devil's Lake, and twenty years later 
was still breeding there in less numbers, and more about farm 
houses than on the cliffs. At the present day it has almost 
entirely deserted the cliffs, in Wisconsin, and has gradually 
spread out over all the settled parts of the state, until it is 
one of our most common swallows. 
Hirundo erytliros aster Bodd. BARN SWALLOW. 
This species, although a common summer resident, is not 
nearly as abundant as the cliff or tree swallow. Seldom nest- 
ing in extensive colonies, it prefers to scatter, ordinarily 
a few, or even a single pair, occupying a building. It arrives 
about May first, and leaves early in September. 
Tachycineta bieolor (Yicill.). TREE SWALLOW. 
An abundant summer resident. The earliest of the swal- 
lows to arrive in the spring, numbers of this species are often 
caught by severe cold snaps, and perish in their vain attempts 
to procure food enough to sustain life. Many may sometimes 
be found, along the lake shores, that have fallen exhausted 
into the water, on these occasions. The tree swallow prefers 
to nest in the vicinity of a stream or pond, gathering a mass 
of feathers into some hole or natural crevice in an old stump 
or tree on which to lay its eggs. It is easily induced to nest 
in bird boxes, but not being able to cope with the English 
sparrow, is quickly driven away. Strange as it may seem this 
species often becomes the foster parent of the cowbird. 
Riparia riparia (Linn.). BANK SWALLOW. 
A common summer resident, but appears to be restricted 
to certain localities as a breeding bird, and its range in the 
state is very imperfectly known. Many observers who have 
published notes must have mistaken large numbers of the next 
for this species. In all our experience we have found the bank 
swallow nesting in any numbers only along the shores of Lake 
Michigan, along the Mississippi River, and about some of the 
larger inland lakes and rivers, where it nests in colonies. It 
ofttimes occurs in great numbers along Lake Michigan. In 
the interior it occurs chiefly as a fall migrant, the common 
nesting "bank swallow" being the next species. 
