276 REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. a [PART In 
the Vermejo River, Paraguay, which may belong to the species usu- 
ally considered as the resident “P. purpurea” of South America, 
but belonging clearly to a different and apparently unnamed species. 
Specimens are in the collection from the entire United States 
is similarly marked below; dark brown above, with only faint metallic gloss 
towards the ends of the feathers, all the feathers narrowly margined with 
light grayish. 
(No. 21,009, Paraguay.) Total length, 7.50; wing, 5.40; tail, 3.40; depth 
of fork, .84; distance between Ist and 9th primary, 2.36; length of bill from 
forehead, .52, from nostril, .32, along gape, .87, width, .62; tarsus, .57; 
middle toe and claw, .85; claw alone, .26; hind toe and claw, .54; claw 
alone, .27. . 
A specimen in Mr. Lawrence’s collection, from Bahia (No. 146), and probably 
of this species, has nearly attained its full plumage. The color is a steel blue, 
with less purple than in P. subis, except about the head and neck, the 
lower part of the back showing a good many of the blackish-bronze feathers 
just described. The feathers of the under parts posteriorly, although steel 
blue, have yet a very narrow border of dull gray. The tibial feathers are gray 
at base, tipped with whitish, and there is a good deal of concealed white in 
the middle of the feathers of the anal region, less, however, than in the Cuban 
species. As in that bird there is also more lustre on the quills and tail 
feathers than in subis; but, owing to these being in moult, I cannot make 
any comparison of proportions. 
The great difference in the coloration of the young bird distinguishes this 
species very satisfactorily from the P. subis, in which, as far as the examina- 
tion of many specimens goes, the under parts are never of that peculiar uni- 
form dark brown just described. Of this stage of plumage, so marked in the 
three specimens from the Vermejo, and in a specimen belonging to the Phila- 
delphia Academy, I find no mention by authors. 
It is very probable that this is the species usually considered as the P. 
subis (purpurea), of South America. That this is not the fact is easily shown 
by the difference in size and proportion, as well as in the coloration of the 
young birds. It cannot be chalybea, even if this, when adult, be entirely 
blue, as it is much larger than as described by Buffon and Brisson, and is 
dark fuscous brown beneath, and neither reddish-gray nor grayish-brown. It 
of course is none of the white-bellied species, and as far as I can see, lacks a 
name. 
The “Progne purpurea,” which Darwin found breeding at Bahia Blanca, 
Buenos Ayres, in holes excavated in the earth, probably belongs to this species. 
This habit I have not heard mentioned in reference to the North American bird. 
| | 
Smith- Collec-| Sex When 
sonian| tor’s | and Locality. Received from Collected b 
No. | No. | Age. Collected. y 
21,009 32 fof Vermejo River. Feb. 1860. | Capt. T. J. Page, Pa- Chr. Wood. 
21,010 32 gf Gt ‘ Trana Expl. ‘“ 
21,011 382 a “ce “ce “e 
