PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 227 



in Brazil and without other data, retains only two old primaries, 

 the others and part of the body plumage being in process of 

 growth at the usual points. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear. 



Female. — The sexes are practically alike, although the female 

 usually has less black on the chin, and the moults are undoubt- 

 edly similar. 



Chelidon erythrogastra (Bodd.). Barn Swallow 



1. Natal Down. Smoke-gray. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, dull iridescent green (less often blue), browner on the pileum, the fore- 

 head russet and a faint nuchal band grayish. Wings and tail dull greenish 

 black, rectrices with large subterminal white spots, the outer pair xuith broad, 

 rounded apices reaching less than one inch beyond the central pair. (See 

 plate II, fig. 20.) Below, pale cinnamon often vinaceous, the chin and 

 throat much deeper and russet tinged, a broad incomplete slate-black band 

 across the jugulum. Lores and auriculars dull black. Feet sepia. Bill 

 dusky except a pinkish lower mandible, wholly black when older. 



This plumage is still worn, its pink tinge somewhat lost when 

 the birds leave for the south about the end of August. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired probably by a complete 

 postjuvenal moult. 



It is evident, as with the other species of Swallows, a com- 

 plete moult occurs before this species returns to our latitude in 

 the spring. Two specimens from South America, taken in Feb- 

 ruaiy, show primaries and tails with adherent sheaths and fresh 

 body plumage, but it is impossible to say whether they are 

 adults or young birds ; and two others from Corumba, on the 

 boundary between Brazil and Bolivia, March 23d (Amer. Mus. 

 Nat. Hist., Nos. 31 164 and 31 166), are also in fresh new plum- 

 age. The new attenuated lateral rectrices (plate II, fig. 21) 

 extend fully one and one-quarter inches beyond the middle pair. 

 Greenish wings are acquired together with the metallic purplish 

 feathers of the jugular band. The chin and throat become 

 chestnut and the lower parts darker cinnamon. Old and young 

 become indistinguishable. 



