334 



NOKTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Genus PETROCHELIDON, Cabanis. 



Petrochelidon, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1850, 1851, 47. 

 = P. swainsoni, Scl. ) 



(Type, Hirundo mclanogastcr, Swaix-s. 



Gen. Char. Bill stout and deep, somewhat as in Progne. Nostrils entirely superior, 



open, without overhanging 

 membrane on the inner (or 

 upper) side, but somewhat 

 overhung by short bristles, 

 seen also along base of inner 

 mandible and in chin. Legs 

 stout ; the tarsi short, not ex- 

 ceeding the middle toe exclu- 

 sive of its claw ; feathei-ed all 

 round for basal third or fourth, 

 though no feathers are insert- 

 ed on the posterior face. Tail 



ialling short of the closed wings, nearly square or slightly emarginate ; the lateral feathers 



broad to near the ends, and not attenuated. 



Of this genus as restricted we have but one species in North America, 

 althougli several others occur in the West Indies* and the southern parts of 

 the continent. All liave the hack steel-blue, with concealed streaks of white ; 

 the rump, crissmn, and a narrow nuchal band, and usually the forehead,' 

 chestnut. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons, Baird. 



CLIFF SWALLOW; EAVE SWALLOW. 



Hirimdo lunifrons, Say, Long's Exp. H, 1823, 47 (Rocky Mts.). — Cassin ; Breweh, N. A. 

 Ool. I, 1857, 94, pi. V, no. 68-73 (eggs). —Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 309. — Law- 

 rence, Ann. N. Y. Lye. 1861, 317 (Panama R. R. ; winter). — Verkill, Pr. Bost. N. H. 

 See. 1864, 276 (migration and history). — Lord, Pr. R. A. Inst. Woolwich, IV, 1864, 

 16 (Br. Col. ; nesting). — Cooper & Suckley, P. R. R. XII, ii, 184 (Wash. Terr.). — 

 Dall& Bannister, 279 (Alaska). — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 104. — Samuels, 256. 

 Petroclielidon I. Baird, Review, 1864, 288. H. opifex, Clinton, 1824. H. resimh- 

 licana, AuD. 1824. H.fulva, Bon. (not of Vieillot). — AuD. Orn. Biog. I, pi. Iviii. 

 — Ib. Birds Am. I, pl. xlvii. —Maxim. Cab. Jour. VI, 1858, 100. 



Sp. Char. (No. 18,322 $.) Top of head glossy black, with greenish lustre; back and 

 scapulars similar, but rather duller, and somewhat streaked by the appearance of the white 

 sides of the feathers, — the bases of the feathers, however, being plumbeous. Chin, throat, 

 and sides of head, chestnut-brown, this extending round on the nape as a distinct con- 

 tinuous collar, which is bounded posteriorly by dull grayish. The chestnut darkest on the 

 chin, with a rich purplish tinge. Rump above and on sides paler chestnut (sometimes fad- 

 ing into whitish). Upper tail-coverts grayish-brown, edged with paler, lighter than the 

 plain brown of the wings and tail. Forehead, for the length of the bill, creamy-white, 

 somewhat lunate, or extending in an acute angle, a little over the eye ; a very narrow 

 blackish frontlet; loral region dusky to the bill. A patch of glossy black in the lower part 



