456 NOETH AMERICAN FAUNA, [no. 27. 



vidiials at north end of Methye Portage ; about half a dozen birds on Isle a la 

 Crosse Lake [1888]. (J. M. Macoun.) « 



Tachycineta thalassina lepida Mearns. Western Violet-green Swallow. 



In notes on migration sent to the Biological Survey from Red 

 Deer, Alberta, by F. L. Farley, this species is noted as arriving May 

 18, 1892, and May 7, 1893. 



Macoun states that Spreadborough observed a few at Henry House, 

 Athabaska Pass, in July, 1898.^ 



Riparia riparia (Linn.). Bank Swallow. 



Countless thousands of bank swallows breed in the region now 

 under review, mainly along the courses of the larger rivers, where the 

 clay banks afford ideal nesting sites. As the traveler passes colony 

 after colony of busy swarms, whose nesting burrows dot the faces of 

 the numerous cut banks, he can not fail to be impressed by their pro- 

 digious numbers. 



In 1901 this bird was first noted on Slave River 10 miles below the 

 Peace, where large numbers were breeding, June 9 to 11. We saw a 

 few at Fort Smith, June 19, and while descending Slave River to 

 Great Slave Lake found the species abundant from Fort Smith nearly 

 to the lake, June 29 to July 3. 



In the spring of 1903 we first observed the bank swallow at Edmon- 

 ton, May 8, noting several individuals. We did not again detect the 

 species until we reached Fort Smith, and we found it abundant along 

 the river between there and Fort Resolution, June 15 to 19. My 

 brother and Gary found it abundant also along the Mackenzie between 

 Fort Providence and Fort Wrigiey in July, evidently incubating dur- 

 ing the early part of the month. On their return trip they saw two at 

 Fort McMurra}^ on August 10. 



In 1904 this species arrived at Fort Simpson May 26, when I saw 

 about half a dozen and took one. I did not note it again until May 31. 

 While descending the Mackenzie I found it abundant near Nahanni 

 River, June 3 ; between Blackwater River and Fort Norman, June 9 

 and 10; and between Wolverene Rock and Fort Good Hope, June 18 

 to 20. At Fort McPherson I noted a few on July 11, 14, 15, and 16. 

 On my return trip I noted it near the site of old Fort Good Hope, 

 July 18; near Wolverene Rock, July 20; and near Birch Island, 

 July 21. 



Edward Sabine states that swallows were seen during the excursion 

 across Melville Island in June, 1820 ; ^ Fisher, who observed the 

 birds referred to, mentions that they were seen about some sand- 

 stone cliffs near Liddon Gulf on June 12, and refers to them as 



« Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, pp. 547, 548, 1904. 

 ^Ibid., p. 550, 1904. 



^ SuppL to Appendix Parry's First Voyage, p. ccx, 1824. 



