6 



oak trees, looking for holes for their summer homes. Mr. F. Stephens says that it is 

 a common summer resident in the San Bernardino Mountains, and it is also a common 

 migrant through the valley. The same excellent observer states that he found it 

 abundant at Agua Caliente in the Colorado Desert, where it was seen every day from 

 the 18th of March to the 15tli of April, when he left the locality. 



In British Columbia, according to Mr. John Fannin, it is a common summer 

 resident, first seen by him at Buzzard Inlet on the 13th of March, and by the 29th of 

 the same month it was common. 



The following excellent note is published by Dr. C. Hart Merriam in his account of 

 the birds of the Death Yalley Expedition : — " Tlie Violet-green Swallow is a common 

 summer resident among the mountains, and was frequently seen in the neighbouring 

 valleys while searching for food. Two or three were seen near the upper end of Vegas 

 Wash, Nevada, March 10, and many were observed in Death Valley, at Fiirnace Creek, 

 April 10, and at Saratoga Springs, near the south end, April 26. In Nevada, Dr. Merriam 

 found it common in Pahranagat Valley, May 22-26, saw it on Mount Magruder, June 8, 

 and in Oasis Valley, June 1. In Utah it was common in the Lower Santa Clara Valley, 

 May 11-15. Mr. Nelson found it a common species in the Panamint and Grapevine 

 mountains, where it bred in the crevices of the lofty cliffs, from the summits down to 

 the border of the surrounding valleys. In the former range Violet-green Swallows were 

 common, and a specimen was secured on the summit of Telescope Peak, June 23. 



" In the Argus range it was common aboiit the summit above Matm'ango Spring, 

 May 12-14, and at Coso four or five came about camp, May 28. 



" Mr. Nelson saw the species from the lower part of the Saline Valley to the summit 

 of the Inyo Mountains, in June ; up to timber-line in the White Mountains, in July ; 

 and at the heads of Owens and Merced rivers, in the Sierra Nevada, in July and August. 

 In Owens Valley this Swallow was common about the lake at Keeler and at Lone Pine 

 during the first half of June. At the latter place it was seen flying about in company 

 with the Cliff-Swallows, White-throated and Cloud Swifts, at the mouth of the canon, and 

 with the Barn-Swallows over the meadows and marshes. Mr. Stephens found it more or 

 less common in other parts of the valley. It was common along the valley of Kern 

 Hiver, July 3-13 ; in Walker Basin, July 13-16. Dr. Merriam and Mr. Palmer found 

 it abundant at Old Fort Tejon, where it was breeding in oaks and crevices of the adobe 

 buildings ; it was very common about the summit of the Frazier Mountain, July 9, and 

 at the summit of Tejon Pass, July 12. In the High Sierra it was common about the 

 openings at Horse Corral Meadows, August 9-13 ; in King's River Canon, August 13- 

 16 ; Big Cottonwood Meadows, August 25-26 ; at Soda Springs or Kern E-iver Lakes, 

 September 3 ; and above timber-line at Mineral King, and along the route from that 

 place to Three Rivers in the western foot-hills, September 10-13. Mr. Bailey found the 

 species numerous at Monterey, September 28 to October 9, and Mr. Stephens saw several 

 at Eeche Caiion, Sej)tember 22-2i." 



For the geographical di;>tribution of this species, vide infra, Plate 34 [Map]. 



