190S.] 



BIRDS. 



457 



bank swallows, his identification probably being correct," Eichard- 

 son observed thousands fluttering about the entrances of their bur- 

 rows in the river banks near the mouth of the Mackenzie, July 4 

 [1826], and judged that they had arrived at least a fortnight pre- 

 viously.^ MacFarlane found the species nesting in considerable num- 

 bers on Anderson Eiver/ Baird recorded specimens from Big Island, 

 Fort Good Hope, and Fort Simpson,^ and a specimen from the last 

 locality is still in the National Museum; the catalogue of the col- 

 lection shows that skins were received also from Fort Resolution and 

 Fort Anderson. Macoun states that Spreadborough noted its arrival 

 at Edmonton. Alberta, May 8, 1897, and found it common from 

 Lesser Slave Lake to Peace River Landing in June, 1903.^ 



Bombycilla garrula (Linn.). Bohemian Waxwing. 



Although this beautiful and widely distributed bird was detected 

 nearly a century ago in the region now under consideration, which 

 probably comprises its principal breeding ground in America, its 

 nesting habits are still very imperfectly known. 



In 1901 we first noted the waxAving 50 miles below Fort Smith, 

 June 30, noting a single bird. On the morning of July 2, we saw a 

 inmiber about 100 miles below Fort Smith. They were very rest- 

 less, flying back and forth between the summits of the lofty spruces, 

 and disappeared before I was able to obtain specimens. The sight 

 of these liirds recalled to my guide the fact that he had seen a flock 

 at Fort Smith, while we were encamped there late in June. I saw 

 a single bird at Fort Rae on July 23. 



On June 11, 1903, we saw a flock of about a dozen at Smith Land- 

 ing. The species was next observed on the mountains near the 

 mouth of Xahanni River, where my brother and Gary noted a few 

 on July 15, 10, and 18. A'^Tiile traveling along the southern shore 

 of Great Bear Lake I saw a flock of about 15 on the afternoon of 

 September 8. They were busily feeding among the branches of white 

 spruces, but becoming suddenly alarmed they arose in a body and 

 disappeared before I could observe their habits or secure specimens. 

 The species is said to occur occasionally at Fort Simpson, but dur- 

 ing my residence there I saw none. 



This species, common to Europe and America, was first detected 

 on this continent in the region now under consideration, being ob- 

 served about the same time at two widely separated points. Bona- 

 parte figured and described a female taken March 20, 1825 [probably 



« Journal Voyage of Discovery, p. 221, 1821. 

 ^ Fauna Boreali-Americana, II, p. 3.34, 1831. 

 c proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIY, p. 443, 1891. 

 ^ Rev. Am. Birds, p. 319, May, 1865. 

 ^ Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, p. 552. 1904. 



