234 HIRUNDINIDA. 
Supra virescens, purpureo precipue ad nucham tinctus, tectricibus caude superioribus quoque purpureis, alis et 
cauda viridescenti-nigris, ilarum secundariis intimis interdum albo terminatis ; loris nigris, capitis lateribus 
infra et post oculos et corpore subtus omnino albis; uropygii lateribus albis; rostro nigro, pedibus fuscis. 
Long. tota 4°7, alee 4°5, caude rectr. med. 1°55, rectr. lat. 1°85, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°4. (Deser. 
maris ex San Gerdénimo, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Norta America, Middle and Western Provinces, Arizona and New Mexico 9.— 
Mnxico, Saltillo (Couch 23), Tableland, Real del Monte (Morgan'), valley of 
Mexico (White*%), Hacienda de Tupatero (Dugés"), Plateau, temperate and hot 
regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ®), Orizaba (le Strange, Sumichrast?) ; GUATE- 
MALA, Defias (O. 8.5), San Gerénimo (0. 8. & F. D. G.), Coban (Sarg). 
This pretty Swallow enjoys the privilege of having only the single specific name 
bestowed upon it by Swainson in 1827, when he described Mexican specimens obtained 
on the tablelands and at Real del Monte by Mr. Morgan'. Since then Zachycineta 
thalassinus has been found in the middle and western provinces of the United States 
and in the adjoining provinces from British Columbia southwards. 
In Mexico this species we believe to be only known as a winter visitant*, there 
being no positive evidence that it remains during the summer months for the purpose 
of breeding. It is almost certain, however, that the bird will be found to breed on the 
confines of the United States frontier, as it is well known to do soin Arizona®. In 
Guatemala we only observed it in the winter months, from November till March; it 
was then common about the open lands near Duefias, and about the plains of San 
Geronimo, at an elevation of about 3000 feet. We noticed nothing peculiar in their 
flight; they were generally found associated with 7’. dccolor, hawking insects in the 
same flock. Southwards of Guatemala it has not yet been noticed, nor yet in any of 
the Antilles. 
T. thalassinus makes its nest of sticks and straws, lined with feathers, either in the 
hole of a tree or in the cleft of a rock. The eggs, five in number, are pure white ®. 
b. Ptilosis densa, dorso colore metallico tincto. (Iridoprocne.) 
2. Tachycineta bicolor. vo 
Hirundo bicolor, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. i. p. 61, t. 81’; Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p.11; 
Rev. Am. B. i. p. 297°; Jones, Nat. Berm. p. 34°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. 
p. 044°. 
Petrochelidon bicolor, Sci. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 201°; 1859, p. 8647; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 13°. 
Tachycineta bicolor, Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. 
ii. p. 271%; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 418%; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 83”. 
Hirundo prasina, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2, cf. J. £. Orn. 1863, p. 58™. 
* In the ‘ History of North-American Birds’ it is said to breed on the plateau of Mexico, on Prof. Sumi- 
chrast’s authority *; this author, however, in his published work *, makes no such statement; but, by including 
it amongst the resident birds of the State of Vera Cruz, he leaves us to infer that it does do so. 
