6 



migration ever occurred, or that there has been in recent times a progressive spread of 

 the birds across successive meridians, is less than doubtful — is almost disproven. Birds 

 that fly like Swallows, and go from South America to the Arctic Ocean, are not likely 

 to cut around via Mississippi or the Rocky Mountains, houses or no houses. Moreover, 

 the scarcity or apparent absence of these birds in the Southern States, or most portions 

 thereof, may be simply due to the ineligibility of the country, and only true for a part 

 of the year. It cannot be that the breeding-birds of Pennsylvania, New York, and New 

 England come and go by other than a direct route, and if not detected in the Southern 

 States, it must be because they fly over the country in their migrations and do not stop 

 to breed. It is authenticated that they nest at least as far south as Washington, D.C., 

 where Dr. Coues and Dr. Prentiss found them some twenty years ago to be summer 

 residents, arriving late in April and remaining until the middle of September, though 

 they were not so abundant as some of the other Swallows." 



The American Cliff-Swallow is a very widely distributed species in North America, 

 and its winter range extends to Southern Brazil, Paraguay, and the Argentine Republic. 

 We have received from Mr. Ernest Thompson the following details of its range in 

 Canada : — 

 " Distribution in Ontario. 



" London and vicinity. Ten years ago abundant, breeding on fully half the farms. 



Now I do not see very many except in fall, when they are abundant in 



localities. Think possibly they are drawing into larger communities, though 



I have no evidence of real value to support this idea (W. E. Saunders). 



" Hyde Park. Summer resident {John A. Morden). 



" IAstowel, Co. of Perth. Very numerous in some country places. Dave seen 56 



nests on one out-building {JJ'm. L. Kelts). 

 " Hamilton. Early in May the Cliff-Swallow crosses the southern borders of 

 Ontario .... in colonies .... all over the country. Two broods are raised 

 in the season, and by the end of August they begin to move off (T. Mcllwraith, 

 'Birds of Ontario,' p. 256). 

 " Toronto. A common summer resident about here, breeding under eaves of barns 

 and houses. Dr. Brodie calls my attention to the fact that it is much less 

 common now than formerly. I have it noted as follows : Arrived May 11th in 

 1SS5. 

 " Springfield, and Credit Valley, southward to Lake Ontario. Noted this species 



there in 1888 as rare. First seen June 2nd. 

 " Ellora. Summer visitant. Common {Hon. Chas. Clarke). 

 '■'Bruce Co., Central region, about Mildmay. Summer resident. Common {W. 



A. Schoenau). 

 "Lindsay. Ten years ago very abundant about the barns. I have counted as 

 many as seventy nests under the eaves about a single barnyard. It may be so 

 yet, as I have not since visited the locality. 



