FULVOUS, OR CLIFF SWALLOW. 
81 
This active little bird is, like its congeners, almost 
continually on the wing, and feeds on flies and other 
insects, while performing its aerial evolutions. Its 
note is different from that of other swallows, and may 
be well imitated by rubbing a moistened cork around 
in the neck of a bottle. The species arrive in the west 
from the south early in April, and immediately begin 
to construct their symmetrical nests, which are perfected 
by their united and industrious efforts. At the dawn 
of day they commence their labours, by collecting the 
necessary mud from the borders of the river or ponds 
adjacent, and they persevere in their work until near 
mid-day, when they relinquish it for some hours, and 
amuse themselves by sporting in the air, pursuing 
insects, &c. As soon as the nest acquires the requisite 
firmness, it is completed, and the female begins to 
deposit her eggs, which are four in number, white, 
spotted with dusky brown. The nests are extremely 
friable, and will readily crumble to pieces : they are 
assembled in communities. In unsettled countries these 
birds select a sheltered situation, under a projecting 
ledge of rock ; and, in civilized districts, they have 
already evinced a predilection for the abodes of man, 
by building against the walls of houses, immediately 
under the eaves of the roof, though they have not in 
the least changed their style of architecture. A nest 
from the latter situation is now before me ; it is 
hemispherical, five inches wide at its truncated place 
of attachment to the wall, from which it projects six 
inches, and consists exclusively of a mixture of sand 
and clay, lined on the inside with straw and dried grass, 
negligently disposed for the reception of the eggs. The 
whole external surface is roughened by the projection 
of the various little pellets of earth which compose its 
substance. The entrance is near the top, rounded, 
projecting, and turning downward, so that the nest 
may be compared to a chemist’s retort, flattened on 
the side applied to the wall, and with the principal part 
of the neck broken off. 
So great is the industry of these interesting little 
VOL, IV. F 
