PROGNE. 273 
the size varying with the latitude. The absence of indications of 
sex, of date, and even of locality, too, tends to confuse very much 
all efforts at identification. 
All the species of true Progne are lustrous black above, with 
blue, purple, or violet reflections. Several species are of this color 
all over, differing among each other in size, proportions, and shape 
of tail, etc. Others have white bellies and crissum, with the throat 
and jugulum either like the back, or brown. 
Iam quite satisfied that the impression as to the wide range of 
the North American Purple Martin (P. subis) is erroneous, at least 
during its breeding season. I have as yet seen no specimens from 
South America referable to this species, nor do I find any mention 
of it in the more recent lists of species of particular localities in that 
continent by Sclater and others. Closely related allies, however, 
exist, which will be elsewhere referred to. 
The endeavor to identify the specimens before me has been greatly 
embarrassed by the absence of specimens unmistakably referable to 
the Hirundo chalybea, of Gmelin; this may be what I have called 
leucogaster, but it in no way agrees with the original description. 
All the species of Progne exhibit very distinctly the patch of 
white on the side of the body, covered by the closed wing—appa- 
rently, indeed, characteristic of all the American Hirundinide. 
Synopsis of Species. 
Adult males entirely glossy blue-black all over. 
Females and immature birds gray or light brownish 
below; the belly and crissum whitish, but more or 
less clouded with gray, especially in the central por- 
tion of the longer crissal feathers, the shafts generally 
dusky. (Perhaps especially applicable only to subis.) 
Feathers about anus with a very small central por- 
tion pale whitish-gray. Wings and tail but 
slightly glossed. Fork of tail about .80 deep subis. 
Feathers about anus and of anterior part of crissum, 
with much of their central portion pure, con- 
cealed white. Belly of female perhaps much 
more white than in last. Wings and tail 
glossed almost like the back. Fork of tail 
about 1.00 deep. : : : : - cryptoleuca. 
Females and immature birds as in P. subis 2 
Feathers about anus and crissum dark brown in 
their concealed portion. Wings and tail dull, 
but slightly glossed. Fork of tail 1.10 deep . furcata. 
18 May, 1865. 
