190S.] 



BIRDS. 



455 



Iridoprocne bicolor (Yieill.)- Tree Swallow. 



This swallow has been detected as far north as Great Bear Lake 

 and Fort Xorman, but is rare at that latitude, though common 

 locally in the southern part of the region. In 1901 we saw a few 

 individuals flying about a small pond near Sturgeon Kiver on Ma}^ 1, 

 and next observed a number of the species 30 miles south of Atha- 

 baska Landing, May 4; while we were descending the Athabaska, 

 about 50 miles below Athabaska Landing, May T, a small com- 

 pany flew past in the midst of a driving snow squall. We after- 

 wards noted the species near the delta of the Athabaska, May IT; 

 at the mouth of Peace River, June 5 ; and 25 miles below that point, 

 June 13. At Fort Smith we saw a few and took specimens on June 

 21, after which date the species was not seen. 



In the spring of 1903 we noted the tree swallow at Edmonton, 

 ]May 8 and 10, and we saw several daily between Sturgeon Kiver and 

 Athabaska Landing, May 13 to 15. While descending the Athabaska 

 we observed it betAveen Little Buffalo River and Stony Rapid, May 

 26 ; 30 miles below Fort McMurray, May 29 ; and on the lower Atha- 

 baska, May 31. We noted a few on Rocher River, June 8 ; near Smith 

 Landing, June 10; and at Fort Resolution, June 20 and 26. 



On May 11, 1901, H. W. Jones saw one at Willow River, near 

 Fort Providence. Females were collected at the same place by Mills 

 and Jones on May 20. At Fort Simpson I saw the first one on May 

 19, and noted single birds on May 23, 24, and 25. I did not observe 

 it farther north. H. W. Jones, in letter, reports the species near 

 Fort Providence, ^lay 7, 1905. 



Richardson stated that this species breeds at Fort Xorman.« Ross 

 listed it as rare in the Mackenzie River region north to Fort Good 

 Hope.'^ Baird recorded specimens from Big Island and Fort Simp- 

 son.'' Kennicott noted it at Fort Resolution, May 12, 1860.'^ Both 

 skins and eggs were sent to the Smithsonian Institution from Lesser 

 Slave Lake by Strachan Jones. Russell records four specimens 

 taken at Fort Chipewyan, May 20, 1893.^ Macoun gives the follow- 

 ing notes : 



Observed from the mouth of Lesser Slave River to Peace River Landing, Lat. 

 56° 15', June, 1903 ; first seen at Edmonton, Alta., April SOtli, 1897, breeding in 

 trees late in May. * * * Seen from Edmonton to .Jasper House, breeding 

 in holes in trees in June, 1898. (Spreadborough.) " * * A few specimens 

 were seen l)etween Athabasca Landing and Lesser Slave River ; and a few indi- 



« Arctic Searching Expedition, I, p. 200, 1851. 

 ^Xat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 280, 1862. 

 f Rev. Am. Birds, p. 298, May, 1865. 

 ^ Trans. Chicago Acad. Sci., I, p. 170, 1869. 

 Expl. in Far North, p. 268, 1898. 



