PEOaNE. — PETEOCHELLDON. 225 



chrast^^); Guatemala (SMnner'^), Peten, Belize, Cahaboni«, Duenas, Escuintla, 

 Retalhuleu (0. S. & F. B. G.), San Geronimo (Owen^^); Salvadoe, Acajutla 

 (J. M. JDow^% La Union {0. S.); Hondueas, Comayagua {Taylor '^^), San Pedro 

 ((?. M. WMtely^^); Costa Rica 20, San Jose {Hoffmann^, w. Frantzius^% Nicoya 

 {Arc6); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui {Arc6), Lion Hill station (M'Zeannan^). 

 —Colombia 5; Venezuela; Guiana^S; Amazotsts Valley ^ 21. EcuadobSiO; 

 Beazil'^15; Pakaguati^. 



This is apparently a resident species over the wide area indicated above, or at most 

 subject to very partial migration. We found it breeding in Guatemala, and Mr. Eobert 

 Owen obtained its eggs at San Geronimo in 1860 ^^ ; and, so far as we know, it is a 

 resident bird throughout the year in that country. In Mexico it is found, so Prof. 

 Sumichrast tells us ^^, on the shores of both oceans, not extending into the department 

 of Vera Cruz further than an elevation of about 4000 feet. He adds that it nests 

 at Orizaba in the steeples of churches and old buildings. In Guatemala it is also 

 usually found in the low-lying districts ; the greatest height at which we observed it 

 was near Duefias, nearly 5000 feet above the sea. In South America, E. Bartlett 

 found it breeding in Eastern Peru \ and Natterer met with it at all seasons of the year in 

 BrazU i^. 



Regarding the names which have been applied to this bird, we have no hesitation in 

 using that of Gmelin, which was based upon the Guiana series, whence we have several 

 examples not to be distinguished from our Central-American birds, the true P. 

 leucogastra of Baird. Hirundo domestica is another name for the same species, 

 bestowed upon it by Vieillot from Azara's description ^^. We have a large series of skins 

 from all parts of South and Central America, and we are unable to detect any tangible 

 differences between them. 



Mr. W. H. Hudson* has given a good description of the habits of P. chalybea as 

 observed by him in the vicinity of Buenos Ayres. The eggs of this species are 

 white 1^. 



PETROCHELIDON. 



Petrochelidon, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 47 (1850) (type Hirundo melanogaster, Sw., = Petro- 

 chelidon swainsoni, Scl.) ; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 286. 



There are four American species of this genus, three of which are found within our 

 limits, and whose range is given below. The fourth is P. rujicollaris, Peale, of Western 

 Peru, a bird unknown to us, but recognized by Prof. Baird. Other apparently con- 

 generic species are found in various parts of the Old World, such as P. nigricans of 

 Australia and P. spilodera of South Africa ; so that Petrochelidon has a very extensive 

 range indeed. 



* P. Z. &. 1872, p. 605; 

 BIOL. CBiirTE.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., May 1883. 29 



