1908.] BIRDS. 455 



Iridoprocne bicolor (Vieill.). Tree Swallow. 



This swallow has been detected as far north as Great Bear Lake 

 and Fort Norman, but is rare at that latitude, though common 

 locally in the southern part of the region. In 1901 we saw a few 

 individuals flying about a small pond near Sturgeon River on May 1, 

 and next observed a number of the species 30 miles south of Atha- 

 baska Landing, May 4; while we were descending the Athabaska, 

 about 50 miles below Athabaska Landing, May 7, a small com- 

 pany flew past in the midst of a driving snow squall. We after- 

 wards noted the species near the delta of the Athabaska, May IT; 

 at the mouth of .Peace River, June 5; and -25 miles below that point, 

 June 13. At Fort Smith we saw a few and took specimens on June 

 24, after which date the species was not seen. 



In the spring of 1903 we noted the tree swallow at Edmonton, 

 May 8 and 10, and we saw several daily between Sturgeon River and 

 Athabaska Landing, May 13 to 15. While descending the Athabaska 

 we observed it between Little Buffalo River and Stony Rapid, May 

 26; 30 miles below Fort McMurray, May 29; and on the lower Atha- 

 baska, May 31. We noted a few on Rocher River, June 8 ; near Smith 

 Landing, June 10; and at Fort Resolution, June 20 and 26. 



On May 11, 1904, H. W. Jones saw one at Willow River, near 

 Fort Providence. Females were collected at the same place by Mills 

 and Jones on May 20. At Fort Simpson I saw the first one on May 

 19, and noted single birds on May 23, 24, and 25. I did not observe 

 it farther north. H. W. Jones, in letter, reports the species near 

 Fort Providence, May 7, 1905. 



Richardson stated that this species breeds at Fort Norman/' Ross 

 listed it as rare in the Mackenzie River region north to Fort Good 

 Hope.'' Baird recorded specimens from Big Island and Fort Simp- 

 son.' Kennicott noted it at Fort Resolution, May 12, I860.'' Both 

 skins and eggs were sent to the Smithsonian Institution from Lesser 

 Slave Lake by Straehan Jones. Russell records four specimens 

 taken at Fort Chipewyan, May 20. 1893.° Macouio gives the follow- 

 ing notes: 



Observed from the mouth of Lesser Slave River to Peace River Landing, Lat. 

 r>0° 15'. June, 1903; first seen at Edmonton, A!ta.. April 30th 1897, breeding in 

 trees late in May. * * Seen from Edmonton to Jasper House, breeding 



in holes in trees in June. 1898. ( Spreadborough. ) * * * A few specimens 

 were seen between Athabasca Landing and Lesser Slave River: and a few intli- 



" Arctic Searching Expedition, I. p. 200, 1851. 

 'Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 280, 1862. 

 'Rev. Am. Birds, p. 298, May. 1865. 

 d Trans. Chicago Acad. Sci., I. p. 170, 1869. 

 e Expl. in Fur North, p. 268, 1898. 



