HIRUNDO EUCHRYSEA, Gosse. 



JAMAICAN SWALLOW. 



Hirundo euchrysea, Gosse, B. Jamaica, p. 68, pi. 12 (1817) ; Gray, Cat. Pissir. Brit. 



Mus. p. 26 (1818) ; March, Proc. Philad. Acad. 1863, p. 295; Gray, Hand-1. B. i. 



p. 72, no. 819 (1869); Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 14 (1873) ; Sharpe, 



Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus. x. p. 170 (1885). 

 Herse euchrysea, Bp. Consp. i. p. 31 (1850). 

 Tetrochelidon euchrysea, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1861, p. 72 ; id. Cat. Anier. B. p. 39 



(1862). 

 Callichelidon euchrysea, Baird, Review Amer. B. p. 301 (1865) ; A. & E. Newt. 



Handb. Jamaica, 1881, p. 107. 

 Tachycineta euchrysea, Cory, Auk, iii. p. 58 (1886) ; id. B. West Indies, p. 72 



(1889). 



H. metallice aureo-viridis : uropygio dorso concolore : subtus alba. 



Hab. in insula " Jamaica " dicta. 



Adult. General colour above metallic golden green, greener on the bead ; wing-coverts like the back ; 

 greater coverts, bastard-wing, and primary-coverts blackish, externally washed with golden 

 bronze ; quills black, with a slight bronzy shade on the outer edge ; tail-feathers blackish washed 

 with golden bronze ; lores velvety black ; ear-coverts, fore part of cheeks, and base of chin 

 metallic golden green like the upper surface ; throat and remainder of under surface of bodv 

 pure white ; thighs black ; under tail-coverts pure white ; axillaries and under wing-coverts 

 metallic golden green, with dusky bases ; quills sooty black below : " bill black ; feet purplish 

 black " (Gosse). Total length 5 inches, culmen 03, wing 4\2, tail 2'2, tarsus 0-4. 



Young. Differs from the adult in having the feathers of the throat and breast obscured with dusky 

 subterminal bars. The metallic plumage is also duller and greener, with not such a strong 

 golden lustre. 



Hab. Jamaica. 



This is one of the most distinct of all the Swallows, being remarkable for its metallic 

 plumage. Although it is to be seen in many Museums, it is by no means common in 

 collections, and little has been recorded of its habits. In fact we have not been able to 

 find any record since the date of Mr. Gosse's well-known work on the ' Birds of Jamaica.' 

 There he writes : — 



" This exceedingly lovely little Swallow, whose plumage reflects the radiance of the 



3b2 



