afforded me a a opportunity of observing a curious modiflcation of th e ir nesting-liabits,
which, I believe, had n o t been known u n til I published a note upon th e subject. The
n e st was b u ilt iu little holes in th e perpendicular sides of a ‘ out-hank,’ wlietber dug hy
th e birds tliemselves o r not I could not satisfy myself, though I am inclined to th in k
th a t they wore. My assistant, Mr. Batty, seemed to feel q u ite confident in th e m a t t e r ;
and th e probability is, th a t if th e holes were u o t wholly made by tbo birds, they were a t
least fitted up fo r th e purpose.”
Mr. Hoffman writes :— “ A lthough a species of general distribution, its occurrence
iu m any portions of Nevada lias ye t to be recorded. Mr. llidgway found it most
a b u n d an t around Pyramid Lake, while Dr. Cooper reports its passing P o rt Mojave for
th e n o rth d u rin g th e last week in May. In tbo timbered hills south of Eureka, along
a sh o rt range of oliffs. were found g re a t numbers of Cliff-Swallows (P . l im ifr om ) , wlm
had constructed th e ir nests in every available spot. Specimens were noticed amongst
th e la tte r sujiposod to h e l l . e r y th r o g a s tr a ,]m t none were secured so as to definitely settle
tlie question.”
Throughout tb e greater p a rt of tbo United States tbo Barn-Swallow appears to be a
plentiful summer resident and breeds everywhere, and it is very common in the Easte rn
States, b u t, like most of tho Swallows, is less ab u n d an t fu rth e r to th e northward. Thus
Mr. Dwight speaks of it as a fairly abu n d an t summer v isitan t to the Bras D ’Or region,
Capo Breton Island, while in Prin ce Edward’s Islan d it was abu n d an t and generally
d istributed in summer. Messrs. B ritta in and Cox s ta te th a t it was raro in the llcstigouclie
Valley, New Brunswick.
On the Pennsylvania Alleghanies, Mr. Diviglit found it common on the n orth
mountain, where several pairs were n esting in th e hotel barn. I n Louisiauia, Mr. Coombs
found i t fairly common only as a spring and au tum n migrant. Mr. Beckham, in his
list of th e birds of Bayou Sara, says th a t th e Swallow was several times seen b u t was not
common.
Although only noticed as a mig ran t by Mr. Scott in the Caloosahatchie region,
Florida, the same observer says th a t on th e Gulf Coast i t is a common spring aud very
ab u n d an t i'all migrant. H e adds th a t “ a feiv a re m et with in warm days in tlie vicinity
of Tarpon springs. Some tew breed a t or near th e same point. Mr. Atk in s’s observations
a t P u n ta Rassa and Key W est coincide with what I have written above, except
th a t he has n o t observed th e birds breeding, though ho has seen them a t Key West on
Ju n e 11, and ag a in on August 6-10, in numbers.”
On th e western side of N o rth America a v c find th a t, according to Mr. Jo h n Fannin,
th e Swallow is an a b u n d an t summer resident in British Columbia, a rriv in g a t Buzzard
In le t a t th e end of March or th e beginning of April. Dr. Robert Brown records the
species from Vancouver Isla n d ; and a t Gray’s Harbour, in Washington county, Mr. LaAv-
rence noticed th e species on the 3rd of May. Mr. Anthony found i t ra th e r rare and
says it is only seen for a few days in spring and f a l l ; while a t F o rt Klamath, Oregon,
Mr. Merrill speaks of it as common.
W ith regard to its appearance in Idaho, Dr. H a r t ¡Merriam s a y s:—“ ¡Mr. Bailey saw
one near tho foot of th e Black-foot Mountains, J u ly 12, and found a pair breeding a t th e
ranche at Big Butte. A feAV AA-ere seen nearly every day in A u g u st in Birch Creek and
Lelimi Valleys. They breed a t Scott’s ranche, near Nicholia, and a t th e Lehmi In d ian
Agency. During the early pai’t of J u ly , 1872, I found Barn-Swallows in great numbers
a t F o rt H a ll.”
Professor Coues w rite s:— “ The Barn-SAvalloAV occurs th ro u g h o u t th e M issouri region,
especially d uring the migrations, and breeds in suitable localities, a lth o u g h i t is much
less numerous th an it is in most Avooded and settled p a rts of th e country. I t appears to
withdraAV altogether from th e U n ited States in winter, tliough a fcAV SAvalloAvs a re usually
among the earliest arrivals, in southern portions, even in February. Their g rea t poAvers
of flight enable them to pass rapidly from one couutry to another, according to the
exigencies of th e weather.”
Mr. HcnshaAv says :—“ Tbe Barn-Swallow has a very general distribution tlirougbout
th e middle region, b u t it appears to be noAvhere very common. Specimens were secured
both in Nevada and U ta h a t various points, most in close vicinity of settlements, Avhere,
secure in the protection of m an, it builds its nest under th e I’oofs and in tbe outbuildings.
Individuals of tlie species Avcre quite numerous a t F o rt Garland, Colorado, and Santa Fe,
New Mexico, aud also on tbe road betAvecn here and F o rt W ingate, Avhere they Avere seen
by Mr. Newberry. This is th e most southern poin t a t Avhich we have seen it. I t has
been detected in Arizona only a t F o rt Mojave by Dr. Cooiier.”
Dr. Cooper’s note on the species in California is as folloAVs :—“ This Avell-knoAvn and
b eautiful bird is less abundant along the western th an the eastern coast, its place being
filled iu great p a rt by the H . lunifrons, and perhaps also because it docs not find so m any
suitable places for building iu. As settlements multiply they seem to bo gradually
increasing about farms near the coast, building in th e barns, and living in p erfect h armony
with th eir cousins, which build under the caA'es. I n Avild districts th ey build in caves,
which abound in tbe bluffs along the sea-shore, from San Diego to the Columbia
River.
“ Their nest is b u ilt of mud, plastered u p against a I’after, or on some sujiporting
shelf; it is cnp-sliaped, and lined Avitb fine bay. The saliva of tbe bird is supposed to
render the pellets of mud more adhesive. The eggs are five, Avhitc spotted witli reddish
broAvn, and th ey usually raise tAA'o broods in a season, b u t often leave the last to starve,
in th e ir sudden d ep artu re south in August o r September.
“ I noticed tb e ir a rriv al a t San Diego, March 25th, and have found th em far more
frequent along the sea-coast th an inland, probably from th e lact th a t they prefer the
vicinity of AA'ater, and delight to h u n t insects over its surface, sometimes eveu touching
it as they skim along. A t Sacramento th ey were fouud by Dr. lle c rm an n , and I have
seen them near there as late as September 8th . They arriA'ed a t Sauta Cruz March 21st,
1866, slioAving a remarkable regularity iu comparisou Avith 1862, though the la tte r AA-as
a m uch colder spring. They left Santa Cruz about September 15tb.”