66 
FULVOUS OR CLIFF SWALLOW. 
in 1817, and in this year there was but one nest; the second year 
seven; the third twenty-eight; the fourth forty; and in 1822 there 
were seventy, and the number has since continued to increase.” 
“It appeared in 1822 at Whitehall, on the fifth of June, and 
departed on the twenty-fifth of July; and these are the usual times 
of its arrival and disappearance.” 
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. Their 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, 
as represented in the back-ground of our plate. 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 
