_Hirundo riparia_, LINN. S. N. I, 1766, 344.—WILS.; AUD.—LEMBEYE,
Aves de Cuba, 1850, 47, lam. vii, fig. 3.—JONES, Nat. Hist.
Bermuda, 34 (occasional, Aug. and Sept.). _Cotyle riparia_, BOIE,
Isis, 1822, 550.—CASSIN.—BREWER, N. A. Oöl. I, 1857, 105, pl. iv,
fig. 49 (eggs).—CAB. Jour. 1856, 4 (Cuba).—BAIRD, Birds N. Am.
1858, 313; Rev. 1864, 319.—IB. 1861, 93 (Costa Rica
[?]).—GUNDLACH, Cab. Jour. 1861, 330 (very rare in Cuba).—MARCH,
Pr. A. N. Sc. 1863, 297 (Jamaica; very rare). HEERMANN, P. R. R.
X, 36 (California; abundant?).—DALL & BANNISTER, 280
(Alaska).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 110.—SAMUELS, 258. _Hirundo
cinerea_, VIEILL. _Hirundo riparia americana_, MAX.
SP. CHAR. _Adult._ Above grayish-brown, somewhat fuliginous, with a
tendency to paler margins of the feathers. Beneath pure white, with a
band across the breast and the sides of the body like the back.
Length, 4.75; wing, 4.00; tail, 2.00.
Young birds have less emarginate tails, and the feathers of back,
rump, and wings edged with whitish.
HAB. The whole of North America; Bermudas; Greater Antilles; Costa
Rica; Western Brazil (PELZ.). Also found in the northern parts of the
Old World.
A critical examination has failed to reveal any difference between
European and American specimens of this bird.
[Illustration: _Cotyle riparia._]
HABITS. The common Bank Swallow as we know it, or Sand Martin as it is
called in England, is nearly or quite cosmopolitan in its
distribution. Found throughout Europe in the season of reproduction,
and in portions of Africa in the winter months, it is equally common
throughout North America in the summer, and probably winters in Mexico
and in Central and South America, though it is not mentioned by
Sumichrast as a bird of Vera Cruz. It is said to occur in various
parts of the continent of Africa, and in Europe it extends its
migrations to the extreme northern regions. It has also been met with
in India and in Siberia. Mr. Salvin obtained several specimens at
Duenas, Guatemala, in September, 1861, having previously observed it
about the Lake of Yzabah.
On both continents it is somewhat local in its distribution, in
favorable localities being quite abundant, and in others not known to
exist. It is an early spring visitant wherever found, appearing in
England by the 24th of March, and even in our high Arctic regions
early in May, often in such inclement weather that it is obliged to
take refuge in holes. Mr. Dall met with this species in Alaska, in
favorable situations, in immense numbers. He counted on the face of
one sand-bluff over seven hundred nest-holes made by these birds, and
all of them apparently occupied, so that the bluff presented the
appearance of an immense honeycomb alive with bees. He states that it
takes the bird four days to excavate its nest. Rev. F. O. Morris, on
the other hand, who has closely watched their operations in England,
says that it requires a fortnight, and that the weight of sand a pair
of these birds removes is twenty ounces in a day. Pebbles of more than
two ounces in weight have been known to be taken out by them.
The flight of this species is rapid, but unsteady and flickering. In
searching for their food they skim low over the surface of both land
and water, dropping upon the latter, as they fly, to drink or to
bathe. Their food consists of the smaller kinds of winged insects,
which they pursue and capture, dashing at them at times even on the
water. They usually feed their young with larger kinds than they eat
themselves.
It has not been observed in Greenland, but Richardson found it in
colonies of thousands at the mouth of Mackenzie’s River, in the 68th
parallel. It is a very social bird, usually breeding together in large
communities, and is more independent of man than most of its family,
owing him no other favors than those incident to excavations through
sand-banks, of which it avails itself. The nests of these Swallows are
placed in excavations made by them in the banks of rivers, cliffs by
the sea-shore, and similar favorable situations. These are usually as
near the surface of the ground as the nature of the soil permits to be
readily penetrated, though the bird has been known to work its way
even through hard gravel. Their depth varies from fourteen inches to
four feet, though two feet is the usual distance.
Mr. Augustus Fowler mentions a remarkable instance of sagacity and
provident forethought in these birds, not easily separable from
reason. In the town of Beverly, in a stratum of sandy loam, he
observed each season a colony of some twenty or thirty pairs of these
birds. In this place these birds never burrowed more than two or three
feet. Within a mile of this place another colony excavated a bank in
which the layer of loam was mixed with small stones. In this bank they
excavated to the depth of five, seven, and even nine feet. Why was
there this extraordinary difference in the length of burrows made by
the same species, in situations not more than a mile apart? The reason
for this difference, upon examination, became very obvious. We give
the explanation in Mr. Fowler’s own words: “In one bank, where the
earth was of a fine sandy loam, easily perforated, from the entrance
to the extremity the burrows did not exceed three feet in length;
while in the other bank, with harder loam to work in, one burrow was
found nine feet in length. After examining six holes of nearly equal
length, it appeared that these little birds had sufficient reason for
extending their labors so far into the earth. In every instance, where
they met with a spot free from stones they finished their burrows;
thus showing great care for the welfare of their eggs or young by
avoiding, in the stony soil, a catastrophe so great as would befall
their treasures if by accident one of these stones should fall upon
them.”
The work of perforation they perform with their closed bill, swaying
the body round on the feet, beginning at the centre and working
outwards. This long and often winding gallery gradually expands into a
small spherical apartment, on the floor of which they form a rude nest
of straw and feathers. The time occupied in making these excavations
varies greatly with the nature of the soil, from four or five days to
twice that number.
Their eggs are five in number, pure white, and when unblown have a
fine roseate hue. They are oval in shape, larger at one end, and
pointed at the smaller. Their average length is .72 of an inch, and
their average breadth .47.
* * * * *
We now come to the consideration of three families of Oscine birds, of
pre-eminently dentirostral type, having certain common characters by
which they are distinguishable, with but little difficulty, from all
others. In their close relationship it has been questioned by many
whether they do not all belong under one head, but they are more
generally considered distinct. The common characters, and those
peculiar to each, are as follows:—
COMMON CHARACTERS. Bill stout, and considerably hooked at tip, or with
the point bent abruptly downward; with a deep notch, and sometimes a
tooth or lobe just behind the notch; the tip of the lower mandible
likewise frequently bent up, and with a notch behind it. The nostrils
lateral, the bristles of the mouth generally well developed. The
primaries are ten (except in a few _Vireos_), the outer from one
fourth to one half the second. Tail variable. Tarsi scutellate
anteriorly; sometimes with a tendency to division on the lateral
plates; hitherto not met with. Basal joints of toes more adherent.
Separated from _Turdidæ_ by greater adhesion of toes; from
_Troglodytidæ_ by notched and hooked bill, etc.
A. Basal phalanx of anterior toes abbreviated; that of median toe
decidedly shorter than the basal of inner, or the two basal of outer,
and adherent for its whole length on both sides to the lateral (i. e.
not free at all). Lateral plates of tarsus undivided, except at
extreme lower end.
Vireonidæ. Gonys more than half the length of lower jaw (from tip
to angle of mouth), usually longer than width of mouth, which is
narrow. Bill conical, much compressed, decurved at end and notched,
but scarcely toothed. Frontal feathers bristly and erect, or bent
but slightly forward. Nostrils overhung by membrane. Tarsus longer
than middle toe and claw. Lateral toes generally unequal; outer claw
reaching half-way along middle claw.
B. Basal phalanx of middle toe about as long as the basal of inner,
or the two basal of outer; free externally, at least for about one
third its length, internally for about one half. Lateral plates of
tarsus with decided tendency to subdivision (except in _Myiadestinæ_).
Ampelidæ. Gonys decidedly less than half the length of lower jaw,
or than width of mouth, which is very broad and deeply cleft. Bill
triangular, much depressed, decurved at end and notched, with
moderate though decided tooth. Frontal feathers rather soft,
scarcely bristly or erect. Nostrils overhung by membrane. Tarsus
equal to or shorter than middle toe and claw. Lateral toes nearly
equal; outer claw reaching only to base of middle claw.
Laniidæ. Gonys about half the length of lower jaw; about equal to
width of mouth. Bill very powerful and raptorial, much compressed,
with a strongly marked hook, notch, and tooth at end. Frontal
feathers very bristly, and directed forwards, so as to conceal
nostrils and base of bill. Nostrils with bony walls, except behind.
Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw, sometimes much scutellate on
sides. Lateral claws nearly equal; outer claw reaching a little
beyond base of middle claw.