PROGNE HESPERIA, Brewster 



WESTERN PURPLE MARTIN. 



Progne 'purpurea et Progne subis, auct. ex California. 



Progne subis (nee L.), Belding, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. i. pp. 391, 391 (1878) ; id. 



op. cit. v. p. 547 (1882 j. 

 Progne subis hesperia, Brewster, Auk, vi. pp. 92, 93 (1889) ; A. O. U. Check-1. 



2nd Suppl. Auk, vii. p. 63 (1890); Belding, Occ. Papers Calif. Acad. Sci. ii. 



p. 183 (1890) ; Fisher, N. Anier. Fauna, no. 7, pt. 2, p. 109 (1893). 



Mas similis mari P. purpurea. Fcem. tamen a fcemina P. purpurea, fronte et collo postico canescentibus 

 distingueuda. 



Hab. in America boreali occidentali. 



Adult male. Not to be distinguished from the male of P. purpurea. Total length 7 inches, culmen 0'5, 

 wing 6'65, tail 2'9, tarsus - 55. (Mus. IV. Brewster.) 



Adult female. Similar to the female of P. purpurea, but differing in the hoary white shade on the fore- 

 head and hind neck; the sides of the neck silvery white like the throat; entire underparts 

 hoary white, faintly mottled with brown bases to the feathers of the throat and chest ; under 

 tail-coverts pure white like the abdomen. Total length 7 inches, culmen OS, wing 5'4, tail 2'75, 

 tarsus 0*6. (Mus. W. Brewster.) 



Hab. California, and probably the whole Pacific coast of the United States and British Columbia. 



This western race of P. purpurea was described in 1889 by Mr. William Brewster, from 

 specimens procured by Mr. M. Abbott Frazar in the Sierra de la Laguua in Lower 

 California. The males are not to be told apart from those of Progne purpurea, and the 

 distinctness of the race depends upon the characters of the female bird. Mr. Brewster 

 thus summarizes the differences : — " Described in general terms, the female of P. hesperia 

 may be said to have the forehead, fore part of crown, nuchal collar, and entire under- 

 parts ashy white, the darker markings and shades being only apparent on a critical 

 examination." 



He has very kindly lent us a pair of this new race for purposes of examination, and 

 we find that they bear out the title to separation which he claims for the Purple 

 Martin of Lower California ; at the same time it should be noted that in certain stages of 

 plumage the true P. purpurea approaches very closely to the female of P. hesperia, and 



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