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REVIEW OF AMERIC .N BIRDS. 



[PAUT I. 



Sides of neck and nape brown, like (lie Imok, or the former 

 only slightly hoary. No djstiuot spots along the miuMle 

 I' of epigastrium . , . • . . . . taptra,* 



PETROCHELIDON, Cabanis. 



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Petrorheluhn, Cab. Mas. Hein. 1860-1, 47. (Type Uirundo melanogoiier, 

 Swains. ^ P. swatnsoni, ScL.) 



Bill Btont and deep, somewhat as in Progne. Nostrils entirely superior, 

 open, without overhanging membrane on the inner (or upper) side, but some- 

 what overhung by short bristles, seen also along base of inner mandible and 

 in chin. Legs stout ; the tarsi short, not exceeding the middle toe exclusive of 

 its claw ; feathered all round for basal third or fourth, though no feathers are 

 inserted on the posterior face. Tail falling short of the closed wings, nearly 

 square, or slightly emarginate ; the lateral feathers broad to near the ends, 

 and not attenuated. ^ , .- »i ., i . v*,iA,,.,,, ,: ■ 



Tho claws of Petrochelidon are large, and considerably curved. 

 In posciloma there is a distinct, thougjj short web connecting the 



' Progne tapera. "■■"-'"""*•*'•' '•^' "•"•" ' ' 



Uirundo tapera, LiNN. S. N. 12th ed. 1766, 345, Brazil {DlHron.klk 

 d^Am^rique, Brisron, II, 502, tab. 45, fig. 3). — Progne tapera, Car. 

 Schomburgh's Reise Guiana, III, 672. — Sclater, Catal. 18G1.— 

 Coti/le tapera, Bdrm. Uebers. Ill, 1857, 143 (Brazil). 

 fJTirundo pascuum, Max. Beit. Ill, 1830, 360. 

 llah. Brazil ? Bolivia ? Bogota f 



Specimens in the museum of the Philadelphia Academy, supposed to belong 

 to this sjHJcies, though from Bolivia and Bogota, resemble f'tsca very closely, 

 but dilFer in larger and more attenuated bill, shorter toes, and fewer feathers 

 on tarsus. The size and color are much the same ; but the sides of neck and 

 nape lack the hoary white collar obscured behind, nor do I observe the line 

 of elongated rounded, partially concealed large brown spots along the median 

 line of the belly. The white of the under parts is not so pure. 



Whether this be the same with the Brazilian tapera, o{ authors, I have not 

 had the opportunity of determining, but would not be surprised to find that 

 it was distinct. It is also quite possible that, in the absence of .s{)eeinieiia 

 actually from I'araguay, I have Incorrectly ideutiiied Capt. Page'b speoimeua 

 as y'Msc>«, and mat they are really tM/jcra. 



Total length, 6.60; wing, 6."30; tail, 2.85; depth of fork, .45; difference 

 of primaries, 2.55 ; length of bill from forehead, .65, from nostril, .38 ; along 

 gape, .88; tarsus, .54; middle toe and claw, .72; claw alone, 20; bind toe 

 and claje, .48 ; claw alone, .22. 



The Uirundo americana tapera, of Slonne (Jamaica, IT, 212), the first reference 

 quoted by Linnraus, cannot be the present species, as it refers to a Jamaican 

 bird which Sloane compares with the Kuropean Swift ; it may be either I'roiine 

 dominicensis or Chaetura zonaris, quit possibly tho latter. It is, therefore a 

 question how far the name tapera can be retained for tho species. 



