BIRDS — HIRUNDINIDAK — PROGNE I'lTRPUREA. 



315 



Sp. Ch. — Largest of N. Amoricaii swallows. Closed wings ralhor lunger than tho deeply forked tail. Tarsi and Iocs naked. 

 Color, in the old male, everywhere glossy steel blue, with purple and violet reflections. Fcmilo and immature male less 

 brilliant above, pale bruwiii.sh beneath, blotched with darker ur with bluish. Length, 7.3U ; wing, 5.85 ; tail, 3.40. 



llab. — North America generally. 



Specimens of this species from Petaluma, California, are not appreciably (lifFcieiit. Tlie gloss 

 of the upper as well as the lower parts is rather more greenish, and less jmrjile. Tiie hills are 

 the same, as well as the size every way. Specimens from Coalmila, Mexico, are more like 

 Pennsylvania ones. In those from the Upper Missouri the gloss is more like that of the 

 Petaluma specimen. In one from Sacramento city again the colors have the usual purplish 

 gloss. 



A female from Petaluma has a very distinct grayish white collar across the nape, and tlie 

 entire forehead is of a similar color. 



I have never seen any specimens from the west coast agreeing with Mr. Cassin's description 

 of F. chalybea, in the larger and longer bill and smaller size. An adult Frogne, from Chili, 

 labelled P. chahjhea, by Mr. Verreaux, is exactly like the Nortli American F. purpurea in size, 

 lustre, &c ; the only difference being, apparently, a narrower bill. Number 4773, from the 

 Upper Missouri, is, however, like it in this respect. 



List of specimens. 



