FULVOUS OR CLIFF SWALLOW. 
65 
A very singular trait distinguishes the migrations of this bird. 
While the European or white variety of the human race is rapidly 
spreading over this continent, from its eastern borders to the re¬ 
motest plains beyond the Mississippi, the Cliff Swallow advances 
from the extreme western regions, annually invading a new terri¬ 
tory farther to the eastward, and induces us to conclude, that a 
few more summers will find it sporting in this immediate vicinity, 
and familiarly established along the Atlantic shores. 
Like all other North American Swallows, this species passes the 
winter in tropical America, whence in the spring it migrates north¬ 
ward, for the purpose of breeding. It appears to be merely a 
spring passenger in the West Indies, remaining there but a few 
days, according to Vieillot, who, not seeing any in the United 
States, and observing some while at sea, in August, in the latitude 
of Nova Scotia, supposed that they propagated in a still more 
northern region. As we have not received any account of their 
inhabiting the well explored countries around Hudson’s Bay, we 
are led to the conclusion, that the western wilds of the United 
States have hitherto been their summer resort, and that not until 
recently have they ventured within the domains of civilized man. 
Be this as it may, they were observed in great numbers, by Major 
Long’s party, near the Rocky Mountains, in the month of July; 
and a few were also seen on the banks of the Missouri river. 
Within ten or twelve years, they have become familiar in different 
localities of Ohio, Kentucky, &c. whence they are extending very 
rapidly, and have recently appeared in the western part of New- 
York. In order to show the rapid progress of this little stranger, 
we quote the following passage from Mr. Clinton’s interesting 
paper. 
The Fulvous Swallow “first made its appearance at Winchell’s 
tavern, on the high road, about five miles south of Whitehall, near 
Lake Champlain, and erected its nest under the eaves of an out¬ 
house, where it was covered by the projection of a roof. This was 
VOL. I.-R 
