BIKDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 707 



[Cypsdokles] nigcr Sclater and Salvin, Noni. Av. Neotr., 1873, 95 (Jamaica). — 



Shaiu'e, Hand-list, ii, 1900, 93, part. 

 C[ypsdoidcs\ niger Newton, Ilandb. Jamaica, 1881, 108. 

 C[i/pscloi(ks] niger (tijp-icus) Rartekf, Das Tierreich, Podarg., Caprim., Macrop)., 



1897, 79, part. 

 [Nephox'clcs nigcr var. boreal isl a. niger Coues, Birds Northwest, 1874, 2(58, 



footnote, part (synonymy). 

 Cypseloides nigcr jamaicensis Ridoway, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., xxiii, Apr. 19, 



1910, 53 (Mayfield, St. Andrews, Jamaica; coll. U. S. Nat. Mus.). 



NEPH(ECETES NIGER BOREALIS (Kennerly). 



NORTHERN BLACK SWIFT. 



Adult male probably similar to that of N. n. nigcr (from Cuba)," but 

 larger; adult female similar to that of N. n. jamaicensis, but with 

 feathers of abdomen and under tail-coverts much more distinctly 

 tipped with white, these white tips often extending over whole of 

 under parts posterior to chest. ^ 



« I have not been able to examine an adult male of N. n. nigcr from the type 

 locality (Santo Domingo). 



b Supposed changes of plumage in this subspecies according to age are thus de- 

 scribed by Mr. Frank M. Drew, in Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vii, 1882, 182, 183: 



"An examination of ten birds of this species, taken at Howardsville, ('olorado, in 

 1880 and 1881, leads me to believe that four years are necessary for them to acquire 

 their complete plumage. A young male of the year, taken September 17, was marked 

 as follows. General color dull black, every feather tipped with white, scarcely 

 appreciable on upper back and throat, broader on upper tail coverts and rumj). 

 Crissum almost pure white. In birds of the second year the general plumage has a 

 brownish cast; feathers of back tipped with brown, the head whitish, belly feathers 

 yet broadly tipped with white. The thiixl year the color is black, witli a very faint 

 edging of white on under tail coverts. In the fourth year pure black, forehead hoary, 

 neck with a brownish wash. Feathers bordering the black loral crescent whitish." 



Mr. Drew is undoubtedly mistaken, however, in assuming that the sexes are alike 

 in coloi'ation, for all the sexed specimens examined by me, from whatever locality, 

 show that all those with white-tipped feathers on posterior under jiarts are female.'! 

 and all those without these white-tipped feathers are males. This is true of all the 

 subspecies, except that in the West Indian forms these white tips are much less 

 distinct, sometimes nearly obsolete. 



