CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 177 



late young are sometimes not ready to undertake their long journey. The older ones gather 

 round it and actually push it from the building to make it fly, as it seems to fear to trust itself to 

 its wings. 



Their arrival in spring is always welcomed by the people who live in the Redoubt, while in the 

 fall some one will remark: " It has been sometime since I saw a swallow." Each person fully un- 

 derstood the thought that occupied the other's mind during the momentary silence that followed the 

 remark. It meant that winter was near; how will it be, and what shall we do? 



The distribution of the Barn Swallow in Alaska is well made out. It is a regular visitor to all 

 littoral Alaska, and as far along the northern coast as Unalakklit in latitude 65° north, while in 

 the interior it is found all along the immense Yukon River. Along the peninsula of Aliaska it is 

 sparingly found. It appears in scanty numbers at Iliuliuk village, on Unalashka Island. It breeds 

 there. During the spring of 1879 not one was seen at this place, neither were there any seen dur- 

 ing the summer or fall. It was an exceptionally boisterous year ; gale after gale rapidly succeed- 

 ing the other possibly deterred the usually venturesome bird from coming there. This is the only 

 species of swallow found on any of the Aleutian Chain proper, and is not known west of the island 

 of Unalashka. 



While at Atkha Island in 1879, and at Attu Island in 1880 and 1881, 1 made special inquiry con- 

 cerning this bird, and only those persons who had visited Unalashka- Island and saw the bird there 

 knew of its existence. The absence of knowledge of this bird at either of those places shows con. 

 clusively that neither it nor its congenors visit those places. 



At Nushagak (Bristol Bay) the Barn Swallow is found in considerable numbers. It breeds 

 there, as I saw their nests in June, 1878. 



The Hirundo Unalashhensis, Gmelin, is certainly not referable to any known America swallow. 



614. Tachycineta bicolor (Vieill.). Tree Swalloio. 



On several occasions I observed this Swallow flitting about the buildings at Saint Michael's, 

 during the months of August and early September. The lateness of the season led me to conclude 

 they were birds having reared their young in the interior portions of the country, and were now on 

 their way to the southward, preferring, through some freak or fancy, to return by the coast rather 

 than the interior. 



At the trading station on the Nushagak River I saw a great many, certainly a dozen pairs, of 

 these birds swiftly scouring the edges of the river banks and upper dry lands to obtain the myriads 

 of insects to be found there. 



This species was not observed in any other portion of the country. 



616. Olivicola riparia (Linn.). Bank Swallow. 



The Bank Swallows were but occasional visitors to the vicinity of Saint Michael's, where it was 

 observed only during the middle of the summer season. It came at very irregular intervals and 

 remaiued but few hours. 



They were quite plentiful along the high banks of the lower portion of the Nushagak River in 

 the latter part of June, 1878. They were intimately associated with T. bicolor in their search of 

 food. Unfortunately I was unable to obtaiu specimens from either locality. 



618. Ampelis garrtjlus (Linn.). Bohemian Waxwing. 



This bird is only an occasional visitor to the coast. A single specimen was brought to me by 

 a native, who said he had killed it near Unalakhlit, on Norton Sound, and further asserted that it 

 is rare in that locality. 



Other specimens were obtained from Nulato and Fort Yukon. At the latter place it is not at 

 all common. 



In the neighborhood of Anvik on the Yukon River, and at Kolmakof Redoubt on the Kus- 

 kokvim River, it is reported to be common. 



The Eskimo name of this bird is Tile e die u with, and means a killer of small birds. The 

 clotted blood of its victims may be seen on the wings of the Waxwing. 



S. Mis. 155 23 



