174 MousLEY, Birds of Hatley, Quebec. LApril 



male was sitting. In addition to this bird, only fourteen other examples 

 have been seen, two each in May and July, nine in August and one in 

 September. In connection with the peculiar and interesting distribution 

 of this bird in Maine and the suggestion of the late Mr. Ora W. Knight in 

 his ' Birds of Maine ' 1908, p. 441, that the northern representatives of 

 the species enter the State from the west and pass across it by some regular 

 migration route; and also the previous surmise of the late Mr. Henry A. 

 Purdie (Amer. Naturalist, Vol. 3, 1869, p. 331) that some birds not common 

 on the central and southern Maine coast may reach the northeastern 

 coast of Maine by the St. Lawrence and Maine Central water route, I 

 would here like to ventiu-e the opinion that if this is so, the birds enter 

 Maine from the west and the St. Lawrence, by way of the river St. Francis, 

 the following of whose course would eventually bring them in the vicinity 

 of Lake Megantic at which place or near abouts they probably enter the 

 State of Maine. Much fiu-ther study however will be necessary before this 

 interesting problem can be solved, but in the meantime I feel sure that apart 

 from this theory the river St. Francis as already suggested elsewhere, does 

 form a minor if not a principal highway of migration for birds passing 

 through Hatley. 



79. Passerina cyanea (Linna;us). Indigo Bunting. — Rare sum- 

 mer visitant; June 22 to June 27. Eggs: June 27. This is another rare 

 breeding bird, only a pair having been seen and their nest located in five 

 years. This was placed in a small shrub about four feet above the ground 

 at the side of a little frequented road, and contained the remarkably small 

 set of two eggs only. I fovmd the nest soon after it was commenced and 

 had it under observation every day, not taking the eggs until incubation 

 had been advanced a few days. It was not until the nest was completed 

 on June 22 that I became aware of the owners, never having been able to 

 catch either of them near the site when I had visited it previously. The 

 female was very secretive in her manner never rising above the underbrush. 

 If it had not been for the location I could almost have assigned the nest in 

 the first instance, as belonging to an Alder Flycatcher; which in outward 

 appearance it greatly resembled. 



80. Piranga erythromelas ( Vieillot) . Scarlet Tanager. — Rare 

 transient; May 15 to June 1. I have only seen four examples of this 

 handsome bird in five years, a male and female in June, 1912, and two males 

 in May of the present year, 1915. 



81. Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons (Say). Cliff Swallow. — 

 Common summer visitant; May 6 to Sept. 1. Average date of arrival 

 (for four years) Maj^ 12; of departure (for three years) Aug. 29. Eggs: 

 June 2 to 21. The Cliff Swallow is plentiful at all times especially during 

 the fall migration. As a summer resident it probably comes next to the 

 Barn Swallow as regards numbers, and its gourd shaped nests can be 

 found crowded together imder the eaves of large barns or warehouses. One 

 nest I found had two entrance holes, one on each side, the neck in each case 

 being very flat and short, thus leaving a clear passage right through the 

 top of the nest. 



