112 



SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES. 



Genus PROGNE, Roie. 



Progne, BoiE, Isis, 1826, 971. (Type, Hinmrln purpurea, L.) 



CiiAR. Bill ?tronfr, shnrt, the gape very wide, the sides gradually compressed, the 

 culmen and lateral margins arched to the tip; the latter inflected; the nostrUs basal, 



p. purpurea 



lateral, open, and rounded. Tail considerably forked. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe 

 and claw ; about equal to the too alone. Toes long, strong ; lateral ones equal. 



p. jiurpurfd 



Many species of this genns occtir tlircnighout America, two of them 

 peculiar to the "West Indies, and a tliird to the Galapagos Islands. Some 

 are very local in distribution, thoiigh of most powerful iiight. 



