XIII. FAMILY HIRUNDINID2E, (THE SWALLOWS).
Genus Hirando. Barn swallow. Summer resident, verv abundant; insectivorous. Its food consists entirely oil-meets, some 'being small coleoptera. The swallows, like the swifts, feed entirely on the wing, and thns devour vast numbers of flying insects, whiCh otherwise might annoy us.—Cliff swallows. Summer resident, now become frequent; gregarious; insectivorous. Its feeding proclivities are, as a general rule, similar to the barn swallow. Its curious, bottle-shaped mud tenements may now be seen beneath the eaves of buildings in several localities.—White-bellied svi allow. Summer resident, frequent; insectivorous. Like all other swal lovvs, it feeds on the wing, unceasingly pursuing insects of various kinds. Once the tenant of the forest, it is fast changing its habits, and in some parts has taken posses sion of martin-boxes in preference to hollow trees.
Genus Cot*. Bank swallow. Summer resident, abun dant. gregarious, insectivorous. The bank swallow builds
in holes excavated in the sandy, steep banks of creeks, etc.; hence is more frequent near watercourses. snd, con sequently, feeds on such insects as inhabit them. Its foud which consists of small insects, principally of the hymenopterous kind, is taken on the wing. —Rough winged swallow. Summer resident, frequent; insectivo rous. Closely resembling the preceding species, and often associated with it in the same commu..ity, until recently the two appear to have been confounded.
Genus Progne. Purple martin. Summer resident, abundant, gregarious and insectivorous. Familiarly domiciled in the martin-box, our bird seems specially commissii.ned to rid the neighboring premises of nox ious insects. The food of the martin is usually the larger winged insects, as wasps, bees, large heetles. snch as the common Cetonias or goldsmiths, which are swallowed whole. They seldom seize the honey bee.