. American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States [microform]. Birds; Oiseaux. Spicibs III. HIRUNDO VIRIDIS* WI11TP]-BELLIED SWALLOW. [Plate XXXVIII. Fig. 3] This is the species hitherto supposed by Europeans to be the same with th^^'r common Martin, Ilirundo urhica, a bird nowhere to be found withii> the United States. The English Martin is blue black above; the present spp'-ics greenish blue; the former has the whole rump white, and the legs and feet are covered with short white downy feathers; the latter has nothing of either. That ridiculous propensity in
. American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States [microform]. Birds; Oiseaux. Spicibs III. HIRUNDO VIRIDIS* WI11TP]-BELLIED SWALLOW. [Plate XXXVIII. Fig. 3] This is the species hitherto supposed by Europeans to be the same with th^^'r common Martin, Ilirundo urhica, a bird nowhere to be found withii> the United States. The English Martin is blue black above; the present spp'-ics greenish blue; the former has the whole rump white, and the legs and feet are covered with short white downy feathers; the latter has nothing of either. That ridiculous propensity in foreign writers, to consider most of our birds as varieties of their own, has led them into many mistakes, wliich it shall he the business of the author of the present work to point out, decisively, wherever ho may meet with them. The White-bellied Swallow arrives in Pennsylvania a few days later than the j;iocedin<i species. It often takes posse* on of an apartment in the boxes appropriated to the Purple Martin ; and also frecjuently builds and hatches in a hollow tree. The nest consists of fino loose dry grass, lined with large downy feathers, rising above its surface, and so placed as to curl inwards and completely conceal the eggs. These last are usually four or five in number, and pure white. They also have two broods in the season. The voice of this species is low and guttural: they are more disposed to quarrel than the Ram Swallows, frequently fighting in the air for a quarter of an hour at a tinje, particularly in spring, all the while keep- ing up a low rapid chatter. They also sail more in flying; but during the breeding season frequent the same situations in quest of similar food. They inhabit the northcTn Atlantic states as far an the tlistrict of Maine, where I have myself seen them; am! my friend Mr. (iardiner informs me, that they are found on the coast of Long Island and its • Hirundo bieolor, Viiill. Oit. dt FAm. Sept. pi. Please note that these imag
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectois
