10}- The Wir.soN P.ri.LiniN— No. 5G. 



wind was in the north, a niihl relapse into winter was being exper- 

 ienced and yet four Tree Swallows were flitting over the Bath Road 

 Creek — two more were seen further on. I strongly suspect they 

 have been here for several days and are hoping for better things in 

 the way of weather. 



April 23rd, 1903. 



The weather has been very cold and discouraging to bird life iu 

 general, the wind ordinarily in the north and frost nearly every 

 night; frost severe enough to make a quarter of an inch of ice on 

 the pools. In spite of it all Shrikes, Robins, and Horned Larks 

 have built their nests and laid their eggs, and on Tuesday I saw a 

 Tree Swallow invading a post hole as if it had affairs of state on 

 hand. The swallows must have had a hard time finding insect food, 

 but as the Barn Swallows and Purple Martins have arrived, flies 

 must exist in sufficient numbers to support them. On Tuesday some 

 thousands of Tree Swallows were circling in a sheltered spot in 

 the rear of the Institution. It was a most interesting sight, as the 

 winged insects evidently flew within a circumscribed space, not 

 more than eighty yards in length, and this kept an immense body 

 of Swallows in close quarters. One solitary Barn Swallow gave 

 quality and tone to the assemblage. 



March 26th, 1904. 



Although this is one if the latest seasons recorded, the Tree 

 Swallows are here in numbers. On March 24 I thought I saw one, 

 but it seemed too good to be true; to-day they are everywhere and. 

 as usual, on their arrival, tired out. 



The foregoing notes would lead one to suspect that the Tree 

 Swallows frequently arrived at a very early date. A few years ago 

 T kept in touch with several observers of the early arrival of Swal- 

 lows in the western part of Ontario, and it seemed about an in- 

 variable rule that they reached there a day ahead of their coming 

 here. The average date was about April 8th, but of late years they 

 seem to be putting in an appearance earlier. 



C. W. CLARKE. 



