10 



Swallow tliat I have ever seen in Ploricla during winter. They are quite abundant there, 

 but as soon as they move across the country in large straggling flocks, are not often seen 

 in one locality for many days in succession. While in this State they do not utter a note, 

 but skim silently over the large inland lakes or sail above the almost limitless pine- 

 woods. In early spring they leave for the north." 



Mr. Chapman, writing from Gainesville, Floi-ida, states that the species was abundant 

 up to the date of its departure, May 6th. Mr. Wyatt only met with the species on two 

 occasions during his three months' stay in Florida. A good many were flying over Lake 

 Monroe early one morning, but in the afternoon they had disappeai-ed. In January he 

 observed a few on Indian River, flying over the palmetta-scrub on the banks of the 

 river. 



In his interesting report on Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley in the years 

 1884 and 1885, Mr. W. W. Cooke writes as follows :— 



" Breeds abundantly in Manitoba and most parts of the Mississippi Valley. This is 

 the only Swallow which winters regularly and abundantly in the United States. Eroni 

 its winter-quarters in the Southern States it spreads north, the earliest of its tribe. 

 Indeed, so early is its migration, that it is often overtaken by snow-storms, before which 

 it usually retreats, though sometimes it remains to brave the elements. At Gainesville, 

 Tex., in the spring of 1884 it did not arrive until April 30, though in former years it has 

 been known to come by March 3. Nearer the Mississippi Biver, migration must have 

 started early in March, probably when the warm wave set in, March 8 and March 9. 

 A single bird was seen at Burlington, Iowa, March 10, but the regular advance 

 occurred about two weeks later. If records of first arrivals are to be relied upon they 

 show that the migration of this Swallow took place much earlier east of the Mississippi 

 than west of it. In Illinois, 111., March 24 and 26 ; at Lake Mills, Wis., April 4 ; and 

 at West De Perc and Green Bay, Wis., April 6. West of the Mississippi the first was 

 reported from Coralville, Iowa, April 19th, and Lanesboro, Minn., April 27. Two days later 

 the first came in hundreds to Heron Lake, Minn., when the sun shone in the afternoon 

 after a cold rainy forenoon. The first reached Pine Bend, Minn., May 2, and Erazer 

 City, Minn., May 26. Still further west migration was earlier than along the central 

 line. At Argusville, Dak., it was seen May 5 ; and at Oak Point, Manitoba, May 3. 



" In the spring of 1885 the same warm wave which brought the Martins to the 

 Upper Mississippi Valley induced many White-beliied Swallows to visit Missouri and 

 Illinois. 



" During the last two days of March and the 1st day of April they apjoeared at 

 Saint Louis, Mo., Paris, 111., and Fernwood, 111. ; April 4, they were seen at Milwaukee, 

 Wis.; April 5 at Green Bay, Wis.; April 7 at Lanesboro, Minn.; April 11 at Minnea- 

 polis, Minn. ; and April 28 at Oak Point, Manitoba. At Saint Louis, Mo., the last one 

 was seen April 29 ; at Mount Carmel, Mo., May 2 ; and at Des Moines, Iowa, May 8. 

 Some very late birds were recorded at Bonham, Tex., May 6, and at Gainesville, Tex., 

 Mav 12. 



