HIRUNDO. 



303 



Callichelidon, Bryant. 



CalHchelidon, Brtakt,^MSS. (Type H. cyaneoviridis, Beyant.) 



Nostrils lateral ; overhung by membrane. Tarsi lengthened ; equal to middle 

 toe and more than half the claw ; entirely bare of feathers. Basal joint of 

 middle toe entirely adherent externally, for more than half internally. Lateral 

 toes equal, or outer a little the longer. Tail deeply forked ; the feathers some- 

 what attenuated ; as long as the wings. 



Above grteen, beneath white. 



The type of this new subgenus, perhaps entitled to rank as a full 

 genus, has the same soft velvety condition of the dorsal plumage, 

 without metallic lustre, as in ihalassina. The tail is deeply forked 

 and the lateral feathers narrow and tapering from the base. The 

 second species, placed here provisionally on account of the long 

 bare tarsi, exhibits on the back a strong metallic lustre, and the tail 

 is less deeply forked. 



The legs are longer and more naked than in other American 

 Swallows — in this respect approaching Cheraviceca, of Cab. (C. leu- 

 costerna, of Australia). Here, however, the outer toe is said to be 

 shorter than inner ; the claws very large, the outer toe but little 

 adherent at base. 



Synopsis of Species. 



Above soft velvety grass green, changing to blue on rump. 

 Beneath pure white. Feathers of chin and throat white 

 to base .......... cyaneoviridis. 



Above metallic golden-green. Beneath white ; the chin dusky. 

 Feathers of chin and throat plumbeous at base ; of breast 

 with large greenish spots, somewhat concealed . . euchrysea. 



Hiriindo cyaneoTiridis. 



Hirundo cyaneoviridis, Bryant, Pr. Bost. N. H. Soc. VII, 1859, 111 

 (Nassau, N. P., Bahamas; very abundant). — Callichelidon cyaneo- 

 viridis, Bryaht, MSS. 



Hab. Island of New Providence, Bahamas. 



(No. 11,946.) Upper parts soft velvety green, with a, slight occasional 

 gleam of golden, passing on the wings into greenish-blue, and on the rump 



