dug by tlic liaiik-Swallow.” Finally, Mr. Agersborg states that, although rarer than
C. riparia, it breeds in South-vrestern Dakota in common with that species, along the
A'ermilion and Big Sioux rivers.
Beyond the hordei’s of the United States it becomes more difficult to trace the range
of the Fough-winged Swallow. As Messrs. Salvin and Godman state, it is doubtless
resident in Mexico, but tbe evidence on this point is not satisfactory. Professor Forrari-
Perez records a specimen from Jalapa in August, aud from this district came tbe type
0Î CotilefulcipenuÌR oi Sclater, obtained by de Oca; this is nothing but the immature
bird of S. serripennis. The other localities given by Messrs. Salvin and Godman in the
‘ Biologia’ are Nuevo Leon {Couch), valley of Mexico {Le Strange), Cordova {Sallé).
The bird obtained by Botteri near Orizaba is in full ncsting-plumage, and tbe bird
jirobably breeds in tiiat district, but that the llougli-winged Swallow breeds within
Mexican limits is proved by two nestling specimens obtained by Mr. A. Forrer near
Presidio in June. Nor is the nesting of the species in Mexico to bo Avondered at, for avo
liaA'c undoubted evidence that it breeds in Guatemala. Messrs. Salvdnund Godman bave
recoiA'ed specimens from Mr. Ferrari-Perez, collected in the Valley of Mexico in
November and May, at Jalapa in June (one specimen being a nestling), and at Uuatusco
in August. Mr. "W. B. Hicbardsnn bas sent examples from Bolanos iu Jalisco (March),
and Mr. M”. Lloyd procured one at Beltran and Zapotlan in the same province (April).
Trujillo has also procured the species at Sola, in Oaxaca, in April, and at Juchatengo in
-Vpril. Messrs. Salvin and Godman give many localities where they observed it in
(.iuatemala, and Mr. Salvin states tbat it was common in July on the open lands,
and ilying about the lake of Dueñas. Mr. llobert Owen, who louud one nest and five
eggs near San Gerónimo, writes :—
“ The nest is composed of grass and fine roots, the inside being strewn Avith pieces
of dead ilag. The eggs are Avliite, and measure, axis -7, diam. 'ñ inch. Tbe nest was
dug out of the white sandy soil of a barranco in the Convent garden. The cave ran
liorizontally, and Avas about tAvo feet in length, terminating in a chamber of ju s t sufficient
dimensions to alloAV tbe bird to tu rn round.”
Dr. Schott procured tbe jiresent species at Merida, in Yucatan, and Mr. George
Cavendish Taylor believed tbat lie saw it in Honduras, but that the evidence is not
considered convincing by Messrs. Salvin and Godman is proved by their having omitted
it from the ‘ Biologia.’ Carmiol procured specimens at Attiro, in Costa llica, aud Mr.
Boucard records “ several specimens from San José, March to May.” li e adds : “ They
are principally seen ilying near the streams, sometimes in large numbers. The first
time I had a shot at them I killed six ; there were about fifty on a small tree. Although
i have killed a good many, I never found a female amongst them. I suppose ihe females
must have been in tlieir nests somewhere, but Avbcre I was never able to find out.” Two
specimens arc recorded by Mr. Salvin from Calovevora, iu the State of Panama, collected
by Arcó, and this is the most southern limit of the range of the llough-Avinged Swallow
yet recorded.
The late Dr. BreAver gives the following account of the nesting of this SwalloAv ;—
“ This species was first found breeding in Carlisle, Penn., by Professor Baird, in the
summer of 1813. The following year I visited this locality early in June, aud had an
opportunity to study its habits during its breeding-season. We found the birds rather
common, and c.xamined a number of their nests. None th a t Ave met AvitliAvere in places
tb a t had been oxcaA’ated by the birds, althougli the previous season several liad been
found th a t had been apparently excavated in banks in the same manner as th e Bank-
SAvalloAv. All the nests (seven in number) th a t we tlieii met Avith were in situations
accidentally adapted to their need, and all Avere directly OA'cr running Avater. Some
AA'ere constructed in crcA'ices between the stones iu the Avails and arches of bridges. In
several instances tlie nests were but little above the surface of the stream. In one, the
first laying had been flooded, and the eggs chilled. The birds had constructed another
nest aboA'e tho first one, in whieh A\-cre six fresh eggs, as many as in the other. One
nest had been built betAveen the stones of the wall th a t formed one of the sides of the
flume of a mill. Two feet above it Avas a frequented foot-path, and, a t the same distance
below, the water of the mill-stream. Another nest Avas between th e boards of a small
building in AA'liich reA'olved a Avater-Avheel. The entrance to it was through a knot-hole
in the outer partition, and the nest rested on a small rafter between the outer and the
inner boardings. The nests Avere similar in their construction to those of the Bank-
SwalloAA-, composed of dry grasses, straAvs, and leaves, lined Avith a fcAv feathers; Imt a
much greater amount of material AV’as made use of, OAving, perhaps, to the exposed position
in which they were huilt. The eggs, six in number, in every instance th a t a v o noticed,
AAore pure AAhitc, about the size of those of C. riparia, but a little more uniformly
oblong in shape, and pointed at one end. Their length A'aries from -78 to -GO of an inch,
the average being -75. Their average breadth is *o3 of an inch.”
Concerning the aboA'c notice of Dr. Brewer’s, Professor Coues remarks:—
“ In this picture of the bird at home Ave see it already modified in habits by contact
Avith civilization, and require another portraiture, A v h ic li fortunately ilr . Walter Abm
Fleet has furnished. In an interesting article entitled ‘ Notes ou tho llough-wing<*d
Swallow {Hirundo serripennis) iu Pennsylvania,’ published iu the Bulletin Nuttall Club,
i. p. 0 (1870) he gives tlie results of two years’ careful observation of the economy of the
bird, especially in comparison with Cotile. I condense most of his article in tlie
following paragraph:—
“ The llough-AA’ing, unlike tbe Baiik-SwalloAV, is not gregarious Avhile nesting, tbe
pairing being tlieir ouly association. The nests are not crowded together, but scattered
at irregular intervals along the banks of streams, wherever favourable sites occur. Tlie
birds seldom excavate lioles for themselves, preferring to take some suitable cavity and
refit it to their taste ; thus, they are often found in deserted Kingfishers’ holes, Avliere
the nest is placed a foot or so from tbe entrance. They will also, ou fiiidiug a deeay«‘d
root of sufficient size leading in from their favourite sand banks, remove the soft puuky
wood, following the winding of the root to a depth of about two feet, Avlierc they plaet: