1911] Sicarih : Alaska Expedition of 1909. 95 



Piranga ludoviciana (Wilson). Western Tanager. 



A single bird taken on the Chickamin River on June 21, (no. 

 9354) is, I believe, the first of the species to be reported from 

 any part of Alaska. This specimen is a male adult, in rather 

 dull plumage, with but little red on the head. It was heard 

 singing in the distance and at first mistaken for a robin and 

 nearly passed by as such. Search finally revealed the singer in 

 the top of an alder, at the edge of the W'Oods, where it was 

 secured. From the bird's appearance and actions I feel quite 

 sure that it had a mate on a nest somewhere in the vicinity. It 

 is the only one of the species that was seen. 



Hirundo er3rthrogaster palmeri Grinnell. 

 Western Barn Swallow. 



First seen at Marten Arm, Boca de Quadra, June 9 to 14. 

 Here the barn swallows were fairly common, hovering over the 

 grassy meadows in company with the swifts and tree swallows. 

 On the Chickamin River they were seen daily, though not in 

 any numbers; all observed being in pairs. 



A few pairs were seen at Portage Cove, Revillagigedo Island, 

 the only island locality where barn swallows were noted. At 

 Thomas Bay the species was far more abundant than at any 

 other point, large gatherings of adults and young together 

 circling about over the meadows. At this time, August 13 to 23, 

 many of the young were still attended by their parents. At Port 

 Snettisham, August 24 to 31, small flocks were occasionally seen 

 passing high overhead, evidently migrating southward. 



Six specimens were collected : adult male, Boca de Quadra 

 (no. 9373), adult female, Revillagigedo Island (no. 9374), and 

 two adults and two juvenals from Thomas Bay (nos. 9375-9378). 



These specimens, as well as others in the Museum collection 

 from the Sitkan district, bear out the ascribed characteristics 

 of palmeri, at least as regards the dark coloration of the 

 ventral surface, broad, chestnut forehead patch, and deeply 

 forked tail — as compared with specimens from the eastern 

 United States, — but I am unable to appreciate any difference 

 in the wing length. 



