49 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW
| Of this, the most beautiful Swallow hitherto discovered within the
limits of the United States, the following account has been transmitted
to me by my friend Mr. NUTTALL. "We first met with this elegant
species within the table-land of the Rocky Mountains, and they were
particularly abundant around our encampment on Harris Fork, a branch of
the Colorado of the west. They are nearly always associated with the
Cliff Swallow, here likewise particularly numerous. Their flight and
habits are also similar but their twitter is different, and not much
unlike the note of our Barn Swallow. In the Rocky Mountains, near our
camp, we observed them to go in and out of deserted nests of the Cliff
Swallows, which they appeared to occupy in place of building nests of
their own. We saw this species afterwards flying familiarly about in the
vicinity of a farm-house (M. LE BOUTE's) on an elevated small isolated
prairie on the banks of the Wahlamet; and as there are no cliffs in the
vicinity, they probably here breed in trees, as I observed the
White-bellied Martin do. This beautiful species in all probability
extends its limits from hence to the table-land of Mexico, where Mr.
BULLOCK, it seems, found it.
Mr. TOWNSEND, who afterwards had better opportunities of observing the habits of this bird, thus speaks of it:--"Aguila chin chin of the Chinook Indians, inhabits the neighbourhood of the Colorado of the west, and breeds alone, its margins on bluffs of clay, where it attaches a nest formed of mud and grasses resembling in some measure that of the Cliff Swallow, but wanting the pendulous neck in that of the latter species. The eggs are four, of a dark clay colour, with a few spots of reddish-brown at the larger end. This species is also found abundant on the lower waters of the Columbia river, where it breeds in hollow trees." Mr. TOWNSEND also informs me that in the neighbourhood of the Columbia river, the Cliff Swallow attaches its nest to the trunks of trees, making it of the same form and materials as elsewhere. From the above facts, and many equally curious, which I have mentioned, respecting the variations exhibited by birds in the manner of forming their nests, as well as in their size, materials, and situation, it will be seen that differences of this kind are not of so much importance as has hitherto been supposed, in establishing distinctions between species supposed by some to be different, and by others identical. To give you some definite idea of what I would here impress upon your mind, I need only say that I have seen nests of the Barn or Chimney Swallow placed within buildings, under cattle-sheds, against the sides of wells, and in chimneys; that while some were not more than three inches deep, others measured nearly nine; while in some there was scarcely any grass, in others it formed nearly half of their bulk. I have also observed some nests of the Cliff Swallow in which the eggs had been deposited before the pendent neck was added, and which remained so until the birds had reared their brood, amidst other nests furnished with a neck, which was much longer in some than in others. From this I have inferred that nests are formed more or less completely, in many instances, in accordance with the necessity under which the bird may be of depositing its eggs. HIRUNDO THALASSINUS, Swains. Syn. of Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag.
for 1827, p. 365. Bill narrower than in the preceding species; wings extremely long, extending far beyond the tail, which is emarginate. Upper part of head deep green, gradually shaded into the dark purple of the hind neck; back rich grass-green, rump and upper tail-coverts carmine purple; a line over the eye, cheeks, and all the lower parts pure white, excepting the wing-coverts, which are light grey. Female with the upper part of the head and hind neck light greyish-brown, glossed with green; the back as in the male, the rump greyish-brown; lower parts white, anteriorly tinged with grey. Male, 4 10/12, wing 4 6/12.
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