204 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb. 



common breeder in the hills north of Ottawa. In the immediate 

 neighborhood of the capital it is rarely seen in summer. Its 

 stav covers the time from May 13th to October 3rd. On May 

 23rd, 1909, I saw as many as three in one tree in Major's Hill 

 Park, Ottawa. 



HIRUNDINID^ SWALLOWS. 



185. Progne subis, Purple Martin. A common summer resi- 

 dent. While in manv parts of the United States people com- 

 plain that this fine bird is rapidly decreasing in numbers, it is 

 rather increasing here. Many flourishing colonies are found in 

 martin houses and in the cornices of buildings in Ottawa, and I 

 found usually at least one colony in every town and village in 

 Carleton, Renfrew and Russell Counties, Ontario, and in Labelle 

 County, Quebec, which I visited. They begin to come as early 

 as April 13th and assemble in huge migratory flocks towards the 

 middle of August. On the 22nd of August, 1909, a flock of 

 5-10,000 was on the Rifie Range all day, all leaving for the south 

 at 7 o'clock p.m. The last stragglers are seen September 5th. 



186. Petrochelidon lunijrons, Cliff Svv'allow. A moderately 

 comm.on summer resident. It may be abundant around a 

 certain farm yard^ and then no more be seen for miles of territory. 

 Its colonies of gourd-shaped, sometimes two-storied mud nests 

 under the eaves of barns, etc., are a verv interesting sight. 

 Time: April 2 7th (1908) to vSeptember 30th '(1908). 



187. Hirundo erythrogastra, Barn Swallow. A common to 

 abundant summer resident. They arrive about the 21st of 

 April (earliest 7th) and the last go September 21st. On August 

 7th, 1909, I saw a flock of about 500 along the wires of fences, 

 and on the road, near Blanche P.O., Quebec. While many species 

 slip away quietly and unnoticed for their fall migration, all 

 the Swallows, Night Hawks and Blackbirds make their 

 migration very noticeable, by gathering into large armies, the 

 first two in August, the last later. 



188. Tridoprocne hicolor, Tree Swallow. An abundant 

 summer resident. For an insectivorous bird it comes very early, 

 March 27th being the earliest date, when more or less snow is on 

 the ground and ice in lakes and rivers; but it apparently thrives. 

 On August 14th, 1909, Mr. G. R. White saw thousands with 

 other Swallows on the Chaudiere Islands in the Ottawa River. 

 The last seen to go was on August 25th. 



189. Riparia riparia, Bank Swallow. An abundant summer 

 resident. This is the last of our Swallows to arrive from the 

 south, coming from May 13th to 20th, although the advance 

 guard in some years comes on the 1st, 3rd, or 8th. As soon as 

 they arrive they at once begin to tunnel their nesting burrows 

 in sand banks, not minding traffic and people in the least. 



