PETROCHELIDON RUFICOLLARIS (Peak). 



PERUVIAN CLIFF-SWALLOW. 



Hirundo ruficollaris, Peale, U.S. Explor. Exped., Birds, p. 175 (1848) ; Gray, 



Hand-1. B. i. p. 71, no. 839 (1869). 

 Petrochelidon fulva, juv., Cass. U.S. Expl. Exped., Birds, p. 181 (1858). 

 Petrochelidon ruficollaris, Baird, Review Airier. B. p. 292 (1866) ; Salvin and 



Godman, Biol. Centr.-Ainer., Aves, i. p. 225 (1883) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds in Brit. 



Mus. x. pp. 196, 636, pi. iii. (1885) ; Taez. Orn. du Perou, iii. App. p. 503 (1886). 

 Petrochelidon ruficollis, Nation, P. Z. S. 1885, p. 277. 



P. uropygio rufo ; gula, albida ; torque preepectcrali rufa, auricularibus concolore. 

 Hab. in Peruvia. 



Adult male. General colour above dull purplisb blue, streaked on the mantle and back with greyish- 

 white edges to the feathers ; lower back and rump pale chestnut ; scapulars like the back ; wing- 

 coverts and quills brown, with ashy margins to the secondaries ; upper tail-coverts pale brown, 

 with ashy-whitish edges to the outer ones ; tail-feathers dusky brown, paler brown towards the 

 ends of the inner webs ; crown of head purplish blue, separated from the back by a collar of 

 smoky brown, base of forehead dull chestnut ; ear-coverts and cheeks ashy white, the former 

 posteriorly marked with light chestnut, which extends backwards and forms a patch on the sides 

 of the hinder crown ; throat ashy white ; fore neck and chest pale chestnut, with a patch of smoky 

 brown on the sides of the upper breast ; centre of breast and abdomen white, the flanks and vent 

 washed with pale chestnut ; under tail-coverts pale brown, broadly edged with white, producing 

 a mottled appearance ; axillaries and under wing-coverts uniform smoky brown ; quills dusky 

 brown below, more ashy along the edge of the inner web. Total length 4'8 inches, culmen 0'35, 

 wing 3"8, tail l - 9, tarsus (M-5. 



Young. Much duller in colour than the adult ; and distinguished by the narrow ashy margins to 

 the feathers of the upper surface, the wing-coverts, secondaries, and tail-feathers being edged 

 with pale chestnut ; lower back and rump paler chestnut than in the adult ; upper tail-coverts 

 edged with rufous ; throat washed with rufous ; chestnut band on breast less pronounced ; Hanks 

 smoky brown washed with pale rufous. Total length 4 - 6 inches, culmen 0'3, wing 3 45, tail l - 9, 

 tarsus 0'4. 



Hab. Peru. 



The original specimen of this species was discovered by Mr Peale near Callao, in Peru, 

 during the voyage of the United States Exploring Expedition. Mr. Cassin afterwards 

 united Peale's species to the Central-American P. fulva, of which he considered it to be 

 the immature bird. Professor Baird, however, in 1865, reinstated the Peruvian bird as 



o 



