VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. 599 



Wings very long, extending far beyond the tail, very narrow, slightly 

 falciform ; the primaries tapering to an obtuse point ; the first quill 

 longest, the second almost equal, the rest rapidly diminishing ; six of 

 the secondaries emarginate. Tail of moderate length, emarginate, the 

 middle feathers fom'-twelfths shorter than the lateral ; all roimded. 



Bill black ; iris brown ; feet dusky. The upper part of the head deep 

 green gradually shaded into the dark purple of the hind neck ; the back 

 rich grass-green, the rump and upper tail-coverts carmine pvirple. The 

 smaller wing-coverts are dusky, broadly tipped with green, glossed with 

 purple ; the quills and larger coverts dusky, glossed with blue ; the tail 

 also dusky, glossed with blue. A line over the eye, the cheeks, and all 

 the lower parts, are pure white excepting the lower wing-coverts, which 

 are light grey. 



Length to end of tail 4-i|, to end of wings b^^ ; bill along the ridge 

 H, along the edge of lower mandible /^ ; wing from flexure 4i% ; tail 

 to end of middle feathers 1|, to end of longest l^"! ; tarsus i| ; hind toe 

 1%, its claw 1% ; middle toe ^|, its claw -f-^. 



Adult Female. Plate CCCLXXXV. Fig. 5. 



The Female is somewhat smaller, and difi"ers considerably in colour. 

 The upper part of the head and the hind neck are light greyish-brown 

 glossed with bronzed green ; the back bright green as in the male, the 

 rump greyish-brown ; the wings and tail are as in the male, but less 

 glossy ; as are the lower parts, which are, however, anteriorly tinged 

 with grey. 



Length to end of tail 4y'V, to end of wings 5 ; wing from flexiu-e 4|^, 

 tail 1||. 



