380 CYPSELIDA. 
Fuliginoso-niger, dorso, alis et cauda saturatioribus et certa luce nitidis, loris et superciliis indistincte canes- 
centibus: rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota circa 6°3, alee 6°5, caude rectr. med. 2:1, rectr. lat. 2°35 
tarsi 0°5. (Descr. maris ex San Miguel Molino, Puebla, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 
© mari similis. 
Hab. Nortu America, from British Columbia southwards 1°.—MeExico, Sierra Madre de 
Tepic (W. B. Richardson +), San Miguel Molino in Puebla (Ff. Ferrari-Perez 4), 
State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast °); Costa Rica, San José (Zeledon °, Cherrie °).— 
West Inpies generally 7; British Gurana 2°, 
Opinions vary concerning this Swift, whether the bird of Western North America 
and Mexico should be considered distinct from that of the West Indian Islands. The 
question appears to rest simply on the relative size of the two birds, the former being 
slightly larger than the latter. Mr. Sclater kept the two birds separate in his 
Monograph publish ed in 1865 1°, and Mr. Hartert also admits the continental bird to 
subspecific rank !4. American ornithologists differ on the subject, but Mr. Ridgway in 
his Manual places both forms under C. niger. In our opinion the difference is of too 
slight importance to justify separation, though the continental birds appear to be 
undoubtedly a little larger than the average of those from the West Indies. 
Little is known of this bird in Mexico. Sumichrast states that it is found in the 
State of Vera Cruz and breeds there1°. The latter fact is confirmed by the specimen 
from Puebla, which is scarcely adult and was shot on the 5th July; and also by 
Mr. Richardson’s examples, all of which are immature and were shot in June 14, It is 
probable that the ‘“‘ Black Swift” about the size of C. brunneitorques, which Mr. Richmond 
(Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. xvi. p. 516) saw in numbers on the Rio Frio in Costa Rica, belonged 
to this species. It has been recorded from that country by Mr. Zeledon ® and confirmed 
by Mr. Cherrie®, and the latter naturalist says that on the label of Mr. Zeledon’s specimen 
in the National Museum is a note to the effect that the bird was breeding when shot. 
2. Cypseloides cherriei. 
Cypseloides cherriei, Ridgw. Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. xvi. p. 44°. 
“Similar in size and general form to C. brunnettorques (Lafr.), but tail quite truncated, with feathers less 
rigid and only very minutely mucronate. Colour, uniform sooty black (much darker than in 0. brunnei- 
torques), the under surface somewhat paler, especially anteriorly, where becoming light grayish on the 
chin. A large, sharply defined spot of silky white on each side of the forehead, immediately over the 
lores, and a short streak of the same colour immediately behind the eye; lores velvety black, in very 
sharp contrast with the white spot above them. Length (skin) 5 inches, wing 6, tail 1°87, tarsus 0°50.” 
(Ridgway, 1. ¢.) 
Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (G. K. Cherrie 4), 
“This apparently new species needs no comparison with any other, the peculiar 
white markings of the head being sufficient to at once distinguish it.” (Ridgway.) 
We have seen no bird at all answering to the above description of Mr. Ridgway. 
The species appears to be remarkably distinct, and we shall be glad to hear more 
about it. 
