c
“ Numbers of these birds nest along the river in crevices among the rocks. I
know of a small colony that frequents a stone culvert, over whieh is a railroad track, and
through wliieli a small stream passes. This culvert is bnilt of rough uncut stones, and
pre.scnts innumerable fine nesting-sites for the Swallows. One nest found here was
placed in a crcvice about one foot above running water, aud contained young. Six or
seven eggs are laid, and first clutches are completed by May 17. A set of seven
eggs was found during June, 18S7, which contained six of this species aud one of tbe
Barn-Suallow.”
Dr. E. Langdon, Avriting in 1889, mentioned the present species as having
occurred in large numbers in Ohio; and ilr . Evermann states that in Carroll County,
Indiana, it is a summer resident, hut is not so common as Coiile riparia. Specimens
have been iirocured by Mr. H. K. Coale near Riverdale, Illinois, in April; and in the
southern part of the same State “Mr. llobert llidgway says tliat the Hough-winged
Swallows nest in communities in company with C. riparia, occupying adjoining holes and
having entirely the same habits, but they are much more numerous tliere than the
common Bank-SwalloAv.
Mr. Pindar also records it as a common summer resident in Fulton County,
Kentucky, and according to Mr. Eox it Avas the most plentiful of all the S aamHo w s in
Hoane County, Tennessee, arriving there early in April. Jlr. Loomis says that it is
rather common in summer iu South Carolina, and is also common duriug its migrations ;
it is generally distributed, but is most abundant in the vicinity of Avater. Mr. Bailey
found the eggs in Georgia on the 18th of April.
Mr. Maynard Avritcs of the species in Florida;—“ Tlie quaint and ancient city of
St. Augustine is situated on an arm of the ocean; consequently it is necessary to protect
the lower section hy a sea-wall, whieh extends the entire length of the town. This wall,
heing broad upon the top, is used as a promenade by the inhabitants. While sauntering
along this AA’alk one day in April, I observed some Swallows alighting iu frout of me.
I saw at once that they were a sjiecies 1 had ncA'cr seen before, but a closer vicAv proved
them to be llough-Avinged Swallows. At first there were only four or five to be seen,
but in a few days there were quite a number flying about the place. Tliis is the only
time I ever met Avith the species living, aud I have never fouud it breeding in the State;
but having met Mr. Allen, in Jacksonville, a fetv weeks later the same season, he
informed me that he found a small colony evidently about to breed on some bluffs along
the St. John’s river, not far from the mouth. This species is said to breed in holes in
buildings, under bridges, etc.”
Mr. "W. E. D. Scott, in his paper on the Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida, states
that this species was not A^ery common in April 1877, in the vicinity of Tarpon Springs,
which is the only point Avherc he observed it.
Mr. N. C. Brown states that it Avas a rather common summer resident near Coosada,
in Central ^Uahama, where it arrived on tlie 22nd of Marcli, but was not generally
distributed until the first Aveek in April. Mr. Scott states that it was tolerably abundant
in Westnrn Missouri, arriving about tlie lo th of April, aud breeding. Mr. Beckham,
in his essay on the Birds of Bayou Sara in Louisiana, says:—“ The Rough-winged
Swallows, which arrived in Alarch, were present in force, and were breeding in holes in
the hanks along Alexander’s Creek, where the Kingfishers were also nesting.’’
Mr. Dresser, in his account of the Birds of Texas, writes “ At Eagle Pass, the
first of these hirds I noticed arriving from the South I saw on tho 21st of Eebruary.
Both there and near San Antonio they are very common durmg the summer, breeding
in tlie towns, making their nests under the eaves and in holes in the old walls, and
laying pure white eggs; the first of which, that I got, were taken at San Antonio on tho
23th April.”
Mr. Nohrling says that it is a very abundant summer resident in Texas. It often
nests under the roofs of walks, and on old buildings in Houston, but is more a companion
of the Bank-Swallow (OofHe riparia) ou the high lianks on Buffalo-Bayou and Galveston
Bay. In South-western Texas Mr. N. C. Brown states that he only observed two
specimens on tho 3rd anti Ith of JIarch.
Jlr. Brewster, in a paper ou the Birds of M'estorn North California, says that it
was “ the characteristic Swallow of the valley region, oommon almost everywhere
throughout the settled coimtiy up to about 2500 feet, and nesting ia ledges and clay
hanks formed hy railroad-outtings or the erosion of streams.”
Jlr. Belding writes “ This bird arrived at Jlurphy’s on JIarch loth, 1877, and
remained till Jlay 3rd, or probably later. They constituted only a fraction of tlie
multitude of Swallows of the place, and were, perhaps, altogether not more than two
dozen in number. I have not scon it elsewhere.”
Jlr. Hoffman, in his paper ou the Birds of Nevada, observes
“ Dr. Cooper found this species as early as Eebruary 27th, and Jlr. Ridgway observed
it in April at Carson City, where it was the most abundant species of the family.
I noticed these hirds also along the hanks of the Humboldt River, north of Battle
Mountain, during the last days of Jlay, where they aro probably sumnier residents,
I hey build in burrows in tho sauily hanks, tlio openings leading to the nests being
from one to two feet below the upper edge of tho bank, similar in this respect to
those of C. riparia.”
Ill Arizona Jlr. Brewster observed it commonly and breeding; but ahout Tiiczon
Jlr. Herbert lirown found it rather rare, arriving ahout tho middle ot JIarch. Messrs.
Allen and Brewster state that they first observed tho Rough-winged Swallow ahout the
lOth of Jlay in Colorado, and that it was not uncommon later. At Pueblo it was
plentiful along the streams, aooording to Jlr. Bccldiam. Jlr. Drew states that it
breeds in the plains of Colorado up to 7000 feet.
Dr. Merrill, writing from Fort Klamath, Oregon, says “ A few pairs breed in the
banks of the streams near the Fort, hut there are few suitable places, as the edges of the
streams are usually low and grassy. Nests, examined June 18. contained half-fledged
young; the burrows wore about two feet iu length, and were much larger than tlms<!