VOL. XVI, PP. 15-16 FEBRUARY 21, 1903 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW CLIFF SWALLOW FROM TEXAS. 

 BY HARRY C. OBERHOLSER. 



Mr. Ridgway has called my attention to certain differences 

 characterizing the cliff swallow of southwestern Texas, which 

 differences seem to warrant its subspecific separation. It may 

 therefore be known as 



Petrochelidon lunifrons tachina, subsp. nov. 



Chars, subsp. Similar to Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons, but decid 

 edly smaller, the forehead ochraceous instead of cream color. 



Description. Type, adult male, No. 168,271, U. S. N. M., Biological 

 Survey Collection; Langtry, Texas, April 26, 1901; H. C. Oberholser. 

 Upper surface dark steel green, the forehead ochraceous, the rump 

 rufous, the hind neck with a narrow collar of light brownish gray, 

 succeeded anteriorly by an imperfect one of chestnut; wings and tail 

 fuscous, with a greenish gloss, the innermost secondaries (tertials) and 

 primary coverts with margins of pale grayish; chin, cheeks, and auricu- 

 lars, continuous with the collar, chestnut; center of throat steel green; 

 breast, and sides of throat and neck behind the chestnut, dull light 

 brownish, the first with a strong ochraceous tinge; remainder of ventral 

 surface white, with the sides and lower tail-coverts pale fuscous, the 

 anal region ochraceous. 



Length of wing (type), 104 mm. ; tail, 45 mm. ; exposed culmen, 7 mm. ; 

 tarsus, 11.5 mm. 



Although seemingly most like true P. lunifrons, the bird above de 

 scribed is intermediate between lunifrons and melanogastra, approaching 

 7 PBOC. BIOL. Soc. WASH. VOL. XVI, 1803. (16) 



