fl"!
old birds begin to repair and tenant their former nests ; but the young, having no home
ready made, are compelled to wait until the Alay rains bave moistened tbe earth in the
roads, to afford them mud for their structures.
“ But as soon as these seasonal changes have taken place, these birds may be seen
congregated on the roads, in groups of fifty together, huddled at the edges of the pools
formed by the daily rains, and in these places, where the power of the mormng sun has
already evaporated the water, the mud has begun to acquire a stiffness of consistence
which probably is more suitable for moulding to their nests. As they alight to pick up
the pellets, their wings are nearly perpendicularly over the back, aud they are incessantly
fluttering about, appareutly hindering one another by tlicir crowding. Alaiiy may be
seen engaged, where the pools arc a little wider, or where the streams that cross the road
dilate into a broad surface, in sweeping backward and forward over the water, wliich at
every turn they just kiss with thoir beaks. I know not whether they are drinking, or
capturing minute surface-iusects.”
Air. Alarch’s account of the species in Jamaica is as follows:—“ Those Swallows are
found ill all the caves in the limestone ranges, generally domiciled with large colonies
of hats; formerly they occupied parts of all the public buildings and many dilapidated
houses about Spanish Town. The Progne has, however, driven them from the Secretary’s
office, aud another building now occupied by the Executive Committee; and lately the
Balm Swifts have forced them to abandon the House of Assembly; from other public
buildings they are also excluded by tbe vigilance of the keepers, though they often
attempt a lodgment. They arc now congregated in large colonics at the railway stations.
Small parties or solitary pairs still, however, hover aljout their old haunts in the town,
(luring the breeding-season. One pair built in the Bishop’s llcgistrar’s office, and
although the office was closed from 3 o’clock on Saturday until 7 o’clock on Alonday
morning, they built their nest and laid three eggs, which I took from them before they
left. They have often attempted to return every season to the House of Assembly, and
commence building, but their little neighbours, tbe Balm Swifts, allow them no rest
until they have driven them away. This year, 1803, a few pairs have succeeded in
making a lodgment. The nest is a half of an oblong mass of mud aud grass well worked
together, with a fiat top or platform, aTid a small cup filled with down. The flat side
of the section is stuck against the wall or beam; the eggs are three, varying considerably
in form, size, and markings, the type, by yjt^s long, oval, white, splashed with
dots of burnt ochre, thicker at the larger end. In some the marking is almost
obsolete.”
Dr. Gundlach furnishes a similar account of the species in Cuba to that of
Air. Gosse above recorded. Ue states tbat these Swallows quit the northern part of tlic
island in autumn, but merely retire to tbe southcru portions, and in spring he noticed
several in the eastern departments. Their nesting-season is from Alarch to June, and
their song is agreeable and varied. The nest is variously placed iu houses, sheds, and
The occurrence of this species on the mainland of Central Amex’ica rests at present
upon two specimens in the collection of Alessrs. Salvin and Godman, aud now in the
British Aluseum. One specimen was procured by Air. G. F. Gaumer in Tucatan, where,
says that gentleman, it is resident, frequenting tlic cave-like holes called “ senotcs.”
Another specimen, not fully adult, was obtained in Banama by the late Air. AI'Leannau,
and tliere can be no doubt that it is referable to the present species. Alessrs. Salvin
and Godman suggest that there is a possibility of au error in the locality attriliuted to
this specimen, ABLeannan once had some Cuban birds in his possession; but it is
quite possible tbat on the continent of America the species is local and only to be found
in colonies, like its congeners, and thus it may be distributed over a wider area than is
generally supposed.
Dr. Thienemann has described eggs of this Swallow sent from Cuba by Dr.
Gundlach as being similar to those of its North-American relative, the ground-colour
being milky white without much gloss, aud thickly covered with reddish grey, or else
with light or dark spots of a brownish-red colour.
The descriptions are taken from the British Aluseum ‘ Catalogue,’ and the figure is
drawn from the Yucatan specimen iu the Salvin-Godman collection.