whole of North America, especially in the interior, breeding
from very high latitudes to Florida, and from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. It seems to he of rare occurrence in Newfoundland
(Zool. s.s. p. 1741) and was not recognized as occurring in
the Bermudas until September 22nd, 1849, when a large
flight of Swifts and Swallows including many of this species
suddenly appeared in those islands (Contrib. Orn. 1850, p.
35).* It arrives at New Orleans from the south in the beginning
of February and gradually continues its way northwards,
reaching the Arctic Circle about the middle of May.
Its departure takes place early. The limits of its range in
winter have not been determined. It is known to arrive at
that season in Mexico and Lower California, and Mr. Sclater
says (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1872, p. 606) that it reaches the Rio
Negro on the border of Patagonia, where Mr. Darwin and Mr.
Hudson (loc. cit.) observed it breeding in great numbers.!
Interesting accounts of the habits of this species, which
in Canada and the United States is everywhere a welcome
guest, are given by Wilson, Audubon, Nuttall and other
American ornithologists, but its very slight claim to be
counted a “ British Bird ” lessens the need of entering upon
them at any length. Naturally breeding in hollow trees,
often in the deserted holes of Woodpeckers, it readily takes
to the accommodation provided for it by those who wish to
encourage it about their home, and “ Martin-boxes”, made
expressly for the purpose, are therefore very generally set up
in gardens, and near houses. The nest consists of a loose
gathering of twigs, leaves and grass, intermixed with shreds
of cloth, or any material the bird may chance to find, and
is lined with feathers or other soft substances. The eggs,
from four to six in number, are white and measure from *99
to *93 by from ‘85 to ‘65. Several pairs will breed in the
same box, and they generally rear two broods in a season.
any satisfactory corroboration of other asserted instances of the occurrence of
the species in Britain.
* I t seems not to have appeared there since (Zool. 1877, p. 407).
t Several ornithologists, however, consider the South-American birds to be
specifically distinct, in which case those observed by the two naturalists just
named are the Progne elegans of Prof. Baird.
The male has the whole body black, highly glossed with
shining purple-blue, except a white patch on each side
beneath the wing; the wings and tail are brownish-black
slightly glossed with purple, which on the wing-coverts
form indistinct bars: the bill is black: the irides dark:
the legs and feet blackish-brown. The whole length is six
inches and three-quarters, the wing from the carpal joint
five inches and a half.
The female is very similar, but much duller, above, and
beneath brownish-grey, which becomes lighter on the belly
and crest, hut the feathers of the latter have a dark shaft.*
With this species ends the account of the Order Passeres
to be here given. Those which next follow form a heterogeneous
assemblage, contrasting remarkably with the uniformity
of internal structure that characterizes all the. Passeres,
however they may differ in habits and outward appearance.
It does not appear desirable in the course of the present
work to enter deeply into disquisitions on systematic arrangement,
but it must be evident to all serious students of ornithology
that the various so-called “ Families ” of true
Passeres are by no means so distinct as the “ Families” of
the next Order. The THrundinid.ee, however, may fairly be
regarded as a well-defined group, for, strictly Passerine as
they are in every part of their structure, they are sharply
separated from every other section that the ingenuity of
systematists has invented—no existing form having presented
itself that will ally them to any other Family.
* The supposed occurrence at Derby, in 1850, of another American Swallow,
Tachycmeta bicolor, was recorded by Wolley (Zool. p. 3806), and though he,
with his usual caution, was careful to remark that there was “ a possibility of
mistake ” about the matter, there can be little doubt of the truth of the story
told to him. The species at first sight somewhat resembles our House-Martin,
but is easily distinguished by wanting the white rump and the feathered legs of
that bird. Wolley’s specimen was exhibited to the Zoological Society, February
28th, 1860, and is now in the Museum at Norwich.