312 



U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY— GENERAL REPORT. 



In examining an extensive series of specimens I find some differences which may be of 

 importance. Thus, in the Columbia river specimens the entire back and scapulars are nearly 

 pure uniform green, with the faintest possible wash of ijurpliph brown. The feathers on the 

 rump are purplish violet, slightly glossed with green. In 0625, from the Copper mines, the 

 back is purplish brown, with only a trace of green ; the rump nearly pure bluish green, with 

 the merest trace of violet. In a siDecimen from Agua Nueva the colors are much as in the last, 

 except that the purplish brown is more confined to the scapulars and the middle of the back, as 

 in the Columbia river specimens. The wing is longer than in any I have seen, (4^ inches.) 



In one specimen from Tejon Pass, apparently immature, the tertials are terminated broadly 

 with pure white. 



The female differs in the much less brilliancy of color, especially that on top of head and 

 rump, the former more brown. The under parts are dirty white. 



List of specimens. 



Locality. 



When col- 

 lected. 



Sallillo, Mei Spring of 1853. 



.do. 



do 



Rio Grande, N. W 



do 



Medicine Bow C'k, NkI).' July 25, 1857 

 Bridger's Pass, Utah .... July 29, 1857 



Tejon Pass, Cal 



Columbia river July 12, 1835 



do do 



Steilaooora, W. T June — ,1855 



do 



do Mar. 1, 1854 



JAug. 3,1854 



Whence obtained. 



do 



Dr. Henry, U. S. A. 



do 



Lt. F. T. Bryan 



do 



Lt. Williamson 



J. k. Townsend ... 



do 



Dr. J. G. Cooper... 

 Dr. Suckley, U.S.A. 



du 



do 



Orig'l 

 No. 



330 

 354 



110 

 43 



45 



Collected by — Length. 



Stretch 

 ofwings. 



Lt. Couch. 



5.00 



5.00 



W. S. Wood . 



5.00 



12.00 



12.23 



Wing. 



4.75 



Eyes dark br'n ; bill 

 black ; feet light 

 chcsnut 



do 



COTYLE, Boi 



Cotyk, BoiE, Isis, 1822, 550. (Typo //. riparia.) 



Ch. Bill very flat, extremely broad at the base, and gradually narrowed towards the tip ; nostrils prominent and rounded. 



Tail moderate, nearly straight or somewhat emarginated. Tarsi rather shorter tlian the middle too, slender and scutcllated. 

 Toes very slender, the claws slightly curved. Colors generally dull brown above, without gloss. 



This genus is distinguished from Hirundo by the slightly forked tail, rather long tarsi, very 

 slender toes, and extremely dull colors. The two United States species are the smallest we 

 have. Each will form the type of a special division, of at least sub-generic value, with the 

 following characters : 



CoTYLE, Boie.— Tarsi with a tuft of feathers near the toes, on the posterior face. Edges of 

 outer primaries normal. 



Above grayish brown ; beneath white, with a well defined pectoral band C. riparia. 



Stelgidopteryx, Baird.— Tarsi naked. Edge of outer primary with the fibrillac converted 

 into a series of stiffened recurved hooks. 



Above light sooty brown ; the under parts brownish asli, fading behind into white. 



S, serripennis. 



