FULVOUS, OR CLIFF SWALLOW. 
321 
That Say considered his Hirundo lunifrons a new bird, is 
entirely attributable to the incorrectness of Vieillofs figure, 
which is one of those better suited to mislead than to assist the 
naturalist in his researches. The most striking characteristic 
of the Hirundo fulva^ is its even tail ; yet Vieillot has repre- 
sented this part as forked. We are therefore not surprised that 
our learned zoologist, who had no opportunity of consulting 
the coloured plate, should not have even thought of comparing 
his bird with that of Vieillot, who probably figured it with a 
forked tail, merely because it was a swallow. The characters 
of the clilf swallow are so remarkable, and its manner of build- 
ing is so peculiar, that, when these are accurately delineated, 
it cannot be mistaken for any other species. 
The clilf swallow is five and a half inches long. The bill 
is black, and the feet dusky ; the irides are dark brown. A 
narrow black line extends over the bill to each eye ; the front 
is pale rufous, and the remaining part of the crown, black vio- 
heat of the sun was necessary to dry and harden their moist tenements. They 
then ceased from labour for a few hours amongst themselves, by performing 
aerial evolutions, courted and caressed their mates with much affection, and 
snapped at flies and other insects on the wing. They often examined their 
nests to see if they were sufficiently dry ; and as soon as these appeared to have 
acquired the requisite firmness, they renewed their labours. Until the females 
began to sit, they all roosted in the hollow limbs of the sycamores {Platanus 
occidentalis) growing on the banks of the Licking River, but when incubation 
commenced, the males alone resorted to the trees. A second party arrived, and 
were so hard pressed for time, that they betook themselves to the holes in the 
wall where bricks had been left out for the scaffolding. These they fitted with 
projecting necks, similar to those of the complete nests of the others. Their 
eggs were deposited on a few bits of straw, and great caution was necessary 
in attempting to procure them, as the slightest touch crumbled their frail tene- 
ment into dust. By means of a table spoon, I was enabled to procure many of 
them. Each nest contained four eggs, which were white, with dusky spots. 
Only one brood is raised in a season. The energy with which they defended 
their nests was truly astonishing. Although I had taken the precaution to visit 
them at sunset, when I supposed they would all have been on the sycamores, yet 
a single female happened to be sitting, and gayje the alarm, which immediately 
called out the whole tribe. They snapped at my hat, body, and legs, passed be- 
tween me and the nests within an inch of my face, twittering their rage and sor- 
row.” — Ed. 
VOL. III. 
X 
