88 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [n-'W. 



139. Tachycineta thalassina. Violet-green Swallow. 



Mr. CantwelP has already added this species to the list of ])ird.s ktiown 

 to iiihal)it the Yukon Valley. We saw a single nial(> among flocks of 

 bank swallows tt3Mno- over Fifty-Mile River above Miles Canyon July 

 11 and another between White Horse Rapids and Lake Lebarge. On 

 July 18 I took a male from several that we saw near Hootalin([ua, 

 and at the Semenow Hills Juh' 20 Osgood secured a female, flnding 

 her nest with four young in a crevice in the cliti's. Maddren shot a 

 young July 28. After this we frequently saw colonies of from six 

 to ten birds of this species, and one near White Rivei* that must have 

 contained over fifty. 



They were nesting about the cliffs as a rule, but several times we 

 saw them enter holes in banks similar to those of Cllvicola ivparia, 

 while at Fort Selkirk they were nesting in the interstices between the 

 logs of the cabins. We often met with small colonies until within 15 

 miles of Circle, but after August 5 they kept so high al)out the cliffs 

 that identiflcation was possible only ))v their characteristic twitter. 

 The two adult males have green rumps. 



140. Cllvicola riparia. Bank swallow. 



We found a small colony nesting at the northern end of Lake 

 Tagish July 1, and a larger one on the west shore of Lake Marsh July 

 7, but we were entirely unprepared for the great a))undance of this 

 species on Fifty-Mile River above Miles Canyon. There almost ever}- 

 l)ank was honej'combed with their holes. Along the rest of the Yukon 

 as far as Circle bank swallows were common and often abundant, but 

 after August 1 their former presence was generally manifested onl}- 

 by the deserted holes. At Circle I saw about thirty August IT, and 

 a single bird on the following da}'. Eggs advanced in incul>ation 

 were found July 7, and by the 22d the young were flying, and all 

 acting as if preparing to migrate. As it grew dusk on the evening 

 of August 5 Ave watched a large flock which circled over the Yukon, 

 rising higher with each revolution, and at last disappeared toward 

 some mountains due south. 



141. Ampelis garrulus. Bohemian Wax wing. 



We saw several on Six -Mile River Jid}' 1, two at Lake Marsh JuW 

 7, one on Fifty-Mile River July 10, two pairs (one of which was 

 secured) at Miles Cannon Julv 11, one at Lower Lebarge Jul}" 16, two 

 about a mile apai't on Thirty-Mile River July 18, and four near the 

 SelwA^n River July 28. We took two adults and three 3'oung from a 

 flock of twent}^ about 15 miles below the Selwyn Jul}" 29, and four 

 from a similiar flock near Sixty-Mile Creek July 31. We saw them 

 again at the Chandindu River August 4, Camp Davidson August 5, 



iQsprey, III, 25, Oct., 1898. 



