IIIRUNDINID^. — HIRUNDO LUNIFRONS. 95 



their investigations, and that they have not since very materially extended the area 

 of their habitat. In favor of this theory, they appeal to the fact that Vieillot was 

 one of the first to receive a specimen of this bird obtained at sea off the coast of 

 Nova Scotia. It is true that these birds are much more abundant in the British 

 Provinces, in INIaine, and in the northern parts of New Hampshire, Vermont, and 

 New York, than elsewhere this side of the Alleghanies. They are also well known 

 to have existed in those localities long before they appeared in places farther south, 

 where their presence is also known to be of very recent date. Still, my own im- 

 pressions favor the belief that its presence to any considerable extent on this side of 

 the Mississippi valley is an event at least coincident with their discovery by Major 

 Long, and that, in its migrations eastward, this species has followed the shores of 

 the great lakes and the banks of the Ohio and other tributaries of the Mississippi. 

 Spreading out from these great highways, they have peopled the country around, 

 and extended their busy colonies to their present habitat far to the south and east. 

 In these views I am indirectly confirmed by the observations of Sir John Richardson, 

 Avho in his description of the habits of this species (Fauna Boreali- Americana, II, 

 331) makes the following interesting observations: — 



" This species was discovered by Major Long in 1820. It was seen the same 

 year in great numbers by Sir John Franklin's party on the journey from the Cum- 

 berland House to Fort Enterprise, and on the banks of Point Lake, in latitude 65°. 

 Its clustered nests are of frequent occurrence on the faces of the rocky cliffs of the 

 Barren Grounds, and are not uncommon throughout the whole course of the Slave 

 and Mackenzie rivers. On the 25th of June, in the year 1825, a number of them 

 made their first appearance at Fort Chippewyan, and built their nests under the 

 eaves of the dwelling-house, which are about six feet above a balcony that extends 

 the whole length of the building, and is a frequent promenade. Fort Chippewyan 

 has existed for many years, and trading-posts had been established in the Fur coun- 

 tries for a century and a half; yet this is the first instance of this species of Swallow 

 placing itself under the protection of man within the widely extended lands north 

 of the great lakes. What cause could have thus suddenly called into action that 

 confidence in the human race with which the Framer of the universe has endowed 

 this species, in common witli others of the Swallow tribe"? " 



It is not improbable that this species has not even now reached the final limits of 

 its migrations. It is at least certain, that, Avherever met with, the inhabitants 

 almost invariably speak of them as new-comers, and give very exact and generally 

 recent dates for their first appearance in the neighborhood. 



The cav^se of this remarkable change of locality may readily be found in the 

 greater conveniences for breeding-places supplied by the spread of ciAdlization in the 

 country. The eaves of houses, barns, and other buildings, furnish much safer 

 shelter against storms, and greater security against their natural enemies, than the 

 steep cliffs, rocks, and river-banks which formed their original breeding-places. To 

 similar superior attractions presented by the dwellings of man may we also attribute 

 corresponding changes in the natural habits of other species of the Swallow tribe. 

 The common Swallow, on the appearance of man, at once deserts his natural haunts 



