No.l.] M'CHESNEY on birds of DAKOTA. 75 



low; for here, as elsewhere, this Swallow has deserted his native cliffs for 

 the buildings, which they persist in using, notwithstanding their nests are 

 often roughly handled. I have seen a pair cheerfully set to work and en- 

 tirely rebuild in twenty-four hours a nest that had been destroyed in an 

 instant. On one occasion, when the entrance to the nest had been closed 

 by plugging with a newspaper, I observed the pak go for assistance, 

 and in a few minutes return with as many of their friends as could get 

 around the nest, when they all took hold of the paper and tugged with 

 a will, but to no avail, as their united strength was not sufficient to re- 

 move the obstruction ; and, in consequence, the nest was abandoned. 



CoTYLE RiPAEiA, (Liuu.) Boie. — Bank Swallotv. 



Appears May 18, in considerable numbers ; breeds here, and disappears 

 about July 20. The Bank Swallow will occupy the same nest season 

 after season if it remains undisturbed, and in case of destruction will 

 often rebuild on or as near the site of the old nest as possible. 



Pkogne ptjrpukea, (Linn.) Boie. — Purple Martin. 



Arrives about the end of May, and remains until September 9; is seen 

 in considerable numbers and breeds here. The Purple Martin appears 

 to be following the example of the Cliff Swallow in building its nest in 

 the eaves of houses, not to the same extent, however, as that Swallow 

 does, and while it has not entirely deserted the hollow trees, stiU the 

 change that has been observed in more settled portions of the country 

 is becoming quite noticeable here. 



ViREO OLiVACEUS, (Linn.) Vieill. — Bed-eyed Yireo. 



A single specimen of the Eed-eyed Yireo was taken by me on the 6th 

 of June, 1877, near Fort Sisseton. I had not met with the bird before, 

 nor have I since seen it, and its occurrence here must be accidental. 



ViEEO aiLVUS, (Vieill.) Bp. — Warbling Vireo. 



On the same day that the preceding Vireo was taken, I also shot a 

 Warbhug Vireo about the same place. It is the only one I have ever 

 seen on the " Coteau des Prairies." I kept a sharp lookout for these 

 two Vireos during the spring migrations of 1878, but did not observe 

 any. 



LANIID^. 



Lanius ludovicianus excubitoeides, (Sw.) Cones. — White-ntmjyed 

 ShriJce. 

 On May 16, 1877, 1 secured a smgle specimen of this Shrike in the 

 vicinity of Fort Sisseton : this is the only bird of the family I have seen 

 in this region. The specimen measured as follows : 13.00 by 8.60 5 wing 

 3.90 ; tail 3.90 ; bill 0.60 ; tarsus 1.02 ; middle toe and claw O.SO. Black 

 of side of the head meeting that of the opposite side on the forehead, and 

 not interrupted by the white of the under eyelid. 



