10 
QUARTERLY BULLETIN. 
The nests of 17. serripennis are generally much more careless- 
ly built than those of II. riparia; they do not seem to go any 
distance for their materials, but appear to pick up anything suit- 
able which they can find within a few rods of their habitation. 
The nests of the two species are composed of nearly the same 
substances, but those of H. riparia exhibit a greater variety in 
the same nests, for, as they build in large colonies, they are 
obliged to search for materials in different places. On one oc- 
casion I remember finding a nest of II. serripennis composed 
entirely of feathers of domestic fowls. It was built in a desert- 
ed Kingfisher’s hole, in a sand bank, about fifteen rods from a 
barn-yard, in which fowls were constantly kept. At another 
time I found three fresh eggs lying on the bare sand ; the hole 
was a mere pocket, barely six inches deep. In this case the fe- 
male bird was probably under so great a necessity that she did 
not have time to construct a nest in the usual manner, but had 
hastily deepened the already formed cavity. 
I have quite frequently found fresh eggs in the nests of II. 
serripennis , and those far advanced in incubation ; indeed, 
have found fresh, nearly hatched eggs, and young birds, in the 
same nest, but I have never noticed anything like this among 
Bank Swallows, though I have searched carefully. 
In general habits the difference is perhaps less marked. The 
Rough-wings arrive here about the 10th of April, in large num- 
bers, full two weeks before the Bank Swallows, and are found in 
company with II. horreorum and II. bicolor, playing around, 
and chasing insects over the ponds and rivers. 
About the first of May the Bank Swallows come ; H. serripen- 
nis then appear to grow scarcer, and to desert the vicinity of 
ponds and streams where there are no sand banks. During the 
latter part of June and through July, I have often met pairs 
of Rough-winged swallows flying steadily in a particular direc- 
tion, one or another turning out to pursue an occasional insect, 
but when it was captured returning to its former general 
course, over meadows, forests and streams until lost to sight. I 
have thus met pairs at different times, going towards all points 
of the compass. As they fly quite high at these times I have 
never succeeded in killing both birds, but think they would 
prove to be male and female. 
About the last of August, both this species, and II. riparia 
begin to migrate southward, associated with the Barn Swal- 
lows ; when there is no perceptible difference in the habits 
of either. By the middle of September they have all disap- 
peared. 
Watsontown, Pa., Feb. 20th, 1876. 
Bull. N.O.O. I, April, 1870. p, f-//. 
4 
The Rough-Winged Swallow. 
[Sea Island Notes.] 
BY WALTER HOXIE. 
Among the Sea Islands, the Rough-winged 
Swallow finds very convenient breeding places, 
and is a very regular resident, though his 
Spring arrival is somewhat of a movable feast, 
varying as my record shows, between the 2lst 
of March and the 8th of May. If his cousin, 
the Bank Swallow, ever accompanies him, he 
certainly does not come to stay, and has never 
yet introduced himself to me. 
As soon as they get home, the Rough-wings 
begin to inspect their nesting sites. They 
i scratch little hollows in the side of a sana- 
bluff, and then sit around on convenient sticks 
and indulge in lively discussion regarding the 
merits of the locality. This prospecting work 
: lasts but a few days or a week at most, and the 
real work of excavating the subterranean 
dwelling soon begins, and seems to be quite a 
j laborious process, occupying three to four 
weeks. The eggs are four or five in number, 
! oftener less than more, and average a little 
over three-fourths of an inch in length. 
A detailed account of the nesting of a pair 
I have watched carefully this Spring, will il- 
lustrate sufficiently well the above general 
statement. 
On the fourth of April. I found signs of 
scratching in a sand-bluff near my house, and 
| a pair of Rough-wings were seen near the place. 
I On the ninth, the hole was begun, the excava- 
tion being then something less than six inches. 
Work continued till the 21st, when a few grass 
j roots were seen at the farther end. The mens- 
| urements at this time were: depth, 18 inches; 
| width, 4 1-2 inches, contracting at the. end to 
3 1-2 inches; height, 2 5-8 inches. On the eighth 
of May, a set of these eggs was taken. Incu- 
bation begun. The nest was composed of grass 
j roots (Joint grass), and for a subterranean 
| structure was very compactly constructed. 
The front was well raised, being an inch and 
five-eighths high, but there was no back to 
speak of; inside diameter, 2 3-8 inches. The 
shape was thus very similar to a nest of the 
Climbing Swift. 
As a study of “ capacities,” I subjoin the 
| measurements of this set and their cubic con- 
tents both by weight and by measure. 
No. 1. .81 x .51 in. ; capacity by weight, 13 
inches; by measure, 14 inches; No. 2. .83 x .53 
inches; capacity by weight. .17 inches; by 
! measure, 16 inches; No. 3. .80 x .53 inches; 
| capacity by weight, .14 inches ; by measure, .14 
inches. O.&o. XIII. Jane. 1888 p. f/. 
115 
