176 
THE WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW. 
mention the periods of its arrival or departure. In all parts of the country 
which are well wooded, it was, until lately, in the constant habit of breeding 
in the hollows of trees ; now, however, this is not so much the case, as 
will be seen from the following note of Dr. Thomas M. Brewer of 
Boston : — “The Hirundo bicolor arrives in New England the last of April 
or the first of May, and is principally occupied, preparatory to breeding, 
with obstinate contests with its own species, as well as with the Blue- 
bird, the Wren, and the Barn Swallow. In the vicinity of Boston, since 
the destruction of the Purple Martins already mentioned, they have taken 
their places, building in the boxes, jars, &c. originally intended for their 
relatives, so much so, that in this vicinity they are not now known to 
breed at all in the hollow trees ; a change of habit very unusual, if not 
wholly unexampled. So much do they prefer their present mode of breed- 
ing, that I have known them to breed in a rude candle-box, of which one 
side had been knocked out, placed upon the top of the house. In the first 
part of August, they collect in large flocks about ten days before their de- 
parture for warmer climates. During that time they are to be seen in 
great quantities flying around and over the houses in Boston in quest of 
insects.” 
My friend Dr. Bachman says, “ On the afternoon of the 16th of October, 
1883, in company with Dr. Wilson and Mr. John Woodhouse Audubon, 
I saw such an immense quantity of this species of birds that the air was 
positively darkened. As far as the eye could reach, there were Swallows 
crowded thickly together, and winging their way southward ; there must 
have been many millions !” 
Green-blue or White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo viridis, W-ils. Amer. Orn., 
vol. iii. p. 44 
Hirundo bicolor, Bonap. Syn., p. 65. 
White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo bicolor , Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 605. 
White-bellied Swallow, Hirundo bicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 491 ; vol. v. 
p. 417. 
Wings a little longer than the tail, which is deeply emarginate. Upper 
parts steel-blue, with green reflections, lower white ; feet flesh coloured. 
Female similar to the male. 
Male, inches long, 10 in extent of wings. 
