BANE SWALLOW OR SAND MARTIN. 
18T 
between species supposed by some to be different, and by others identical. 
To give you some definite idea of what I would here impress upon your 
mind, I need only say that I have seen nests of the Barn or Chimney 
Swallow placed within buildings, under cattle-sheds, against the sides 
of wells, and in chimneys ; that while some were not more than three 
inches deep, others measured nearly nine ; while in some there was 
scarcely any grass, in others it formed nearly half of their bulk. I have 
also observed some nests of the Cliff Swallow in which the eggs had been 
deposited before the pendent neck was added, and which remained so until 
the birds had reared their brood, amidst other nests furnished with a neck, 
which was much longer in some than in others. From this I have inferred 
that nests are formed more or less completely, in many instances, in accordance 
with the necessity under which the bird may be of depositing its eggs. 
Hirundo thalassinus, Swains. Syn. of Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag. for 1827, p. 365. 
Violet-green Swallow, Hirundo thalassina , ■ Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 597. 
Bill narrower than in the preceding species ; wings extremely long, ex- 
tending far beyond the tail, which is emarginate. Upper part of head 
deep green, gradually shaded into the dark purple of the hind neck : back 
rich grass-green, nimp and upper tail-coverts carmine-purple ; a line over 
the eye, cheeks, and all the lower parts pure white, except the wing-coverts, 
which are light-grey. Female -with the upper part of the head and hind 
neck light greyish-brown, glossed with green ; the back as in the male, the 
rump greyish-brown ; lower parts white, anteriorly tinged with grey. 
Male, 4}#, -wing 4 r 6 2. 
BANK SWAXLOW OR SAND MARTIN. 
Hirundo rip aria, Linn . 
PLATE L. — -Male, Female, and Young. 
Imagine, reader, how delighted I was when, in East Florida, in the winter 
of 1881, I found thousands of Bank Swallows gaily skimming over the 
waters, and along the shores of the rivers and inlets. So numerous indeed 
were they that I felt inclined to think that the greater part of those which 
are in summer dispersed over the United States, and the regions still farther 
north, must have congregated to form those vast swarms. The first time I 
