606 mr. w. h. hudson on the [May 7, 



the three species of Progne found in this country. The Progne cha- 

 lybea, a handsome bird, the largest of its tribe in this neighbourhood, 

 is worthy of the specific name domestica given to it by some authors, 

 being preeminently domestic in its habits. It never breeds in banks 

 as Progne purpurea often does, or in the forsaken domed nests of 

 other birds in trees, a situation frequently resorted to by the Hirundo 

 leucorrhoa, but is so accustomed to the companionship of man as to 

 make its home in populous towns as well as in the country habitations. 

 It makes its appearance here about the middle of September, and 

 apparently resorts to the same breeding-place every year. It is a 

 familiar, noisy, and, in the season of courtship, a pugnacious bird, 

 very common, though not so numerous as the smaller species, which 

 disputes with it the right to the breeding-chinks and holes beneath 

 the eaves. The nest is roughly constructed of dry grass, hair, feathers, 

 and other materials ; the eggs white, pointed, and five in number. 

 When the entrance to its building-hole is too large it partially closes 

 it up with mud mixed with straw ; if there be two entrances it 

 closes one altogether. It is thus very seldom that this bird requires 

 to use mud in building ; and it is the only one of our Hirundines that 

 uses such a material at all. When quitting its nest or on a person's 

 approach, this Swallow utters an exceedingly loud startled cry, several 

 times repeated. It also has a song composed of several agreeably 

 modulated notes, and pitched in that thick rolling intonation which 

 is peculiar to many of the Swallows. This song sounds but low when 

 the bird is close at hand, and yet may sometimes be distinctly heard 

 when the songster appears but a speck in the distance. It is one of 

 the pleasantest songs that heralds our summer, though it is perhaps 

 rendered more so from associations than from intrinsic sentences or 

 melody. The favourite resort of old and young birds when the 



Prof. Baird, in his ' Eeview of North American Birds,' p. 273 et seq., makes 

 several species (P. suhis, P. clegans, P. cryptoleuca, and P.furcata). This species 

 extends from the United States down to the Rio Negro. It is not, however, I be- 

 lieve, found on the western side of the Andes southwards of Ecuador, Progne 

 furcata of Baird, described from Chili, having been probably received from 

 Mendoza (<?/. Philippi et Landb. Cat. Aves Chilenas, p. 88), whence I have also 

 received specimens. 



2. Progne chalybca (Gm.). 



This species ranges from Mexico down to Buenos Ayres. I have skins in my 

 collection from these extremes and many intermediate localities, and am not able 

 to distinguish them. I have hitherto usually employed Baird's name leucogastra 

 for it. It is the Golondrina do?>iestica of Azara, unde Hirundo domestica, Vieil- 

 lot. 



3. Progne dominiccnsis (Gm.), of the Antilles, of which the adult male has a 

 blue-black throat like the back. See Baird, Rev. A. B. p. 279. 



4. Progne tapera (Linn.). 



Of this species I have skins from Bogota, Puerto Cabello, Brazil, and Buenos 

 Ayres ; so that it likewise has an extensive range. I include under this head 

 Phaoprogne fusca and P. tapera of Baird. 



I have in some cases altered Mr. Hudson's scientific names (taken from former 

 papers of myself and Mr. Salvin) to suit this nomenclature. —P. L. S. 



