PROUNE. 



273 



the size varying with the latitiido. The abHence of indications of 

 K.x, of" 'hite, »nd t'vcn of locality, too, tends to confuse very niucli 

 all I'll'orts at idcntilicution. 



All the species of true Progne are hintrous black above, with 

 l)lue, purple, or violet n-flcctions. Several siiecies are of this color 

 all over, differing among each other in size, proj)ortions, and shape 

 of tail, etc. Others have white bellies and crissum, with the throat 

 and jugiiiuni eit'icr like the back, or brown, 



I uin (juite satisfied that the impression as to the wide range of 

 the North American I'urple Martin (I*, siibia) is erroneous, at least 

 during its hreeding season. 1 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 

 coiitiiieiit l)y 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 Uirundo chalybea, of (imelin ; this may be what I have called 

 leu(.v(jad('r, 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- 

 reully, indeed, characteristic of all the American Hirundinidse. 



Synopsis of Species. 



Adult males entirely glossy blue-black all over. 



Females and imm^ure birds gray or light brownish 

 below ; the belly and criHSura whitish, but more or 

 less clouded with gray, especially in the central por- 

 tinu 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 anua 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. WinKS and tail 

 glossed almost like the back. Fork of tail 

 about 1.00 deep ...... cryptoleuca. 



Females and immature birds as in P. subis? 



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, 1805. 



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