622 Field Museum of Natural History — -Zoology, Vol. IX. 



Genus TACHYCINETA Cabanis. 



286. Tachycineta thalassina lepida (Mearns). 

 Northern Violet-green Swallow. 



Distr.: Western United States, from western Nebraska to the 

 Pacific coast, north to Alaska and south to Central America in win- 

 ter; breeds from Arizona, New Mexico, and northwestern Texas 

 northward. 



Adult male: Upper parts, rich deep green, tinged with purple 

 on the upper tail coverts; under parts, white; a patch of pure white 

 on flanks, extending upon sides of rump. 



Adult female: Similar, but duller. 



Length, 4.75 to 5.50; wing, 4.50; tail, 2.20; bill, .25. 



The Northern Violet-green Swallow must be considered an acci- 

 dental straggler within our limits. According to Mr. F. M. Woodruff, 

 a male bird of this species was taken by Mr. George Clingman at 

 South Kenwood, Illinois, on May 4, 1897, (Birds of the Chicago 

 Area, 1907, p. 149). 



There is apparently no other record of its occurrence in Illinois 

 or Wisconsin, but it is known to breed in Nebraska, and has been 

 taken in southeastern Dakota (Cooke) and in Minnesota (Hatch). 



Genus RIPARIA Forster. 



287. Riparia riparia (Linn.). 

 Bank Swallow. 



Clivicola riparia (Linn.), A. O U. Check List, 1895, p. 259. 



Distr.: Whole of North America, south in winter to Central 

 America, the West Indies, and South America; breeds from the Gulf 

 states, Texas, and Arizona north to northern Alaska, Melville Island, 

 northern Labrador, and the far north. 



Adult: Upper plumage, grayish brown; a dusky spot in front of 

 the eye ; breast with a broad band of grayish brown ; rest of under 

 parts, white; a few very small feathers on the tarsus near base of 

 hind toe. In fall plumage the secondaries are tipped with white. 



In some cases a few feathers on the middle breast below the 

 pectoral band are grayish brown. 



Length, about 5.10; wing, 4; tail, 2; bill, .23. 



This species may be distinguished from the Rough-winged Swal- 

 low by the distinct breast band of grayish brown, the rest of the 

 under parts being white. 



