quartering over a series of small lakes and grassy flats, hunting insects and enjoyiuu' the 

 genial sunshine, which lasts for a short time at this season. They are also found as 

 stragglers, generally the young birds of the year, for a few days during the middle of 

 August, when they depart, thus leaving for the south or its interior haunts considerably 

 earlier than the Barn-Swallow, llichardson found them nesting in hollow trees on the 

 Mackenzie River, in latitude 65° north, and during Parry's first voyage a species of 

 Swallow was seen in about latitude 73° north, which was probably this bird. In the 

 spring, during their short visits to St. Michael's, they occur during the same season as 

 the Black Brant; and while lying prone on my back upon a grassy knoll, on the open 

 tundra, watching for Geese, I have frequently amused myself by observing the silent 

 flitting to and fro of these pretty creatures as they skim the surfaces of lakelets and 

 bogs, gliding here and there as if floating on the faint puffs of air which appeared to 

 bold them poised, and then to waft them about in graceful curves. The icy sea and 

 partly snow-covered country appeared to offer a very inhospitable welcome in spring, 

 yet this bird and the Barn-Swallow do not seem to suffer the least incoiivenience from 

 these untoward surroundings. Tliis species is unknown on the islands of Bering Sea." 

 Dr. Murdoch did not observe the species at Point Barrow. 



Captain Blakiston first met with a specimen, at the forks of the Saskatchewan on 

 the 17th of May. He observes: — " My specimen Avas, I believe, the first recorded from 

 the interior, as it is only mentioned as having been observed in the ' Fauna Boreali- 

 Americana.' Since that, however, Mr. Ross has observed it on the jNIaekenzie, as I'ar 

 north as the Arctic Circle. In 1858 the White-bellied Swallow was first seen l)y myself 

 at Fort Carlton, on the 23rd of April ; but I was told of Swallows on the 21st. They 

 were numerous early in May ; and on the 17th I found a great number of them con- 

 gregated about a small lake or pond entirely surrounded by old woods and willows, Avith 

 lis edge margined with long grass. After a time the whole congregation alighted on 

 a coujjle of dead willow-bushes about eight feet from the ground. I found these 

 birds common on the Saskatchewan during the whole summer, and at the eastern 

 base of the Ptocky Mountains, near the international boundary, on the 7th of 

 September." 



For the following notes on the species in Canada we are indebted to our excellent 

 correspondent, ]Mr. Ernest Thompson, who has been collecting observations from various 

 friends for some years past. 

 " Dintrihulion in Ontario : — 



'■^ Londo)i and cicliiit!/. Common, breeding chiefly in tlu^ country. T(mi y(>ars 

 ago, not only this, but Barn- and Eavc-Swallows (as well as the C'liiimiev- 

 Swift) and Martins were very abundant in Loiuhni, seourinn' our main 

 business streets all day for flies. Bui the JMi^lisli Sparrow iu)w invadis 

 their homes in early sj)ring, and we have hut very lew in the eily, thoiii^h 



