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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
in May and June in very large flocks. They choose the flat surface of a cliff or 
rock, and build all over it, the nest is of mud, built very much like a retort , with 
the neck broken off; very often a large clump of nests 8 or 10 in number, are 
built under a ledge over one another. They assemble after nesting in large 
numbers, young and old, and leave again in September. 
Cotyle senipennis .— (Bonap.) 
Bough-winged Swallow. —This swallow arrives about the same time as the 
sand martin and has just the same habits and distribution, but differs in its nesting 
place. This bird always nests in holes in the cotton-wood trees, generally selecting 
dead ones and going as high up as possible, lines the holes with grass and feathers. 
I never obtained the eggs. They assemble in large flocks, and leave again in 
September. 
Ampelis garrulus — (Linn.) - 
Wax-wing, Bohemian Chatterer. These birds I have only met with twice, 
and on both occasions at Colville, in November, I never saw them in the spring. 
They arrived in very large flocks, young and old together. All the leaves were 
gone, and deep snow on the ground, and these birds were feeding on the haws 
remaining on the thorn bushes. 
They remained only two or three days, and then suddenly disappeared. I am 
convinced they go much further north to breed. 
Ampelis cedrorum — (Bated.) 
Cedar Bird. I have never seen these birds in any number west of the 
Cascades, but a few are occasionally seen about the Sumass, and Chilukweyuk 
prairies. But between the Cascades and Bocky Mountains they are very abundant. 
They arrive in small flocks in May, soon pair, and nest along the banks of the 
Columbia river. They build in the white-thorn bushes; the nest always lined 
with a black hair-like moss or lichen.—This moss is used extensively as an 
article of food by the Indians.—They leave again in September. At Siniakwateen 
they also breed in vast numbers. 
Myiadestes townsendii .— (Cabanis.) 
Townsend’s Flycatcher. I met with these rare birds once only and that was 
at Colville, it was towards the end of November; deep snow was on the ground, 
all the leaves were fallen, and it was intensely cold. My attention was first 
attracted by hearing a low sweet song, not unlike our English song-thrush, which at 
this time of year was a most unusual sound, on looking round I saw about twenty 
of these birds perched on the top sprays of some wliite-thorn bushes; in their mode 
of darting off and returning again to the spray they put me in mind of the shrike. 
I shot six of them, and could detect no material difference in plumage between 
males and females. In the stomachs of those I opened were the remains of some 
small Coleopterous insects and a few haws. They left the next day, and I never 
saw them again. 
Collyrio borealis — (Baird). 
Great Northern Shrike Butcher Bird. Found at Vancouver Island 
and along the Boundary line to the Bocky Mountains; I at first imagined I had 
two species, but a more careful comparison of a large series of specimens convinces 
me I have but this one. The males of one, and those of two years old, differ 
so much from each other, and so widely from the adult bird as to have led to great 
confusion. 
