BIRDS—HIRUNDINIDAE—PROGNE PURPUREA. 
315 
Sp. Ch. —Largest of N. American swallows. Closed wings rather longer than the deeply forked tail. Tarsi and toes naked. 
Color, in the old male, everywhere glossy steel blue, with purple and violet reflections. Female and immature male less 
brilliant above, pale brownish beneath, blotched with darker or with bluish. Length, 7.30 ; wing, 5.85 ; tail, 3.40. 
Hab .—North America generally. 
Specimens of this species from Petaluma, California, are not appreciably different. The gloss 
of the upper as well as the lower parts is rather more greenish, and less purple. The hills are 
the same, as well as the size every way. Specimens from Coahuila, Mexico, are more like 
Pennsylvania ones. In those from the Upper Missouri the gloss is more like that of the 
Petaluma specimen. In one from Sacramento city again the colors have the usual purplish 
gloss. 
A female from Petaluma has a very distinct grayish white collar across the nape, and the 
entire forehead is of a similar color. 
I have never seen any specimens from the west coast agreeing with Mr. Cassin’s description 
of P. chalybea, in the larger and longer bill and smaller size. An adult Progne, from Chili, 
labelled P. clialybea , by Mr. Yerreaux, is exactly like the North American P . purpurea in size, 
lustre, &c; the only difference being, apparently, a narrower bill. Number 4773, from the 
Upper Missouri, is, however, like it in this respect. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex 
&age. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig. 
No. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
Remarks. 
1561 
May 22, 1844 
1596 
8.17 
16.58 
6. 
1607 
o 
A 
8.08 
16.25 
5.83 
1636 
0 
July 16,1844 
7.75 
15.75 
5.59 
1129 
n 
7.83 
16.50 
5.92 
4505 
V 
4506 
4507 
4508 
4769 
o 
May 19, 1854 
Lt. G. K. Warren. 
8. 
16.12 
4770 
V 
May 8, 1854 
18 
7.62 
15.37 
4771 
o 
A 
7.87 
15. 
4772 
o 
8. 
16. 
4773 
o 
7.50 
16. 
5.75 
4774 
o 
o 
17 
7.75 
15.25 
6. 
4775 
V 
o 
7.50 
16. 
5.75 
5204 
V 
A 
July, 1856.... 
8. 
16.25 
5.25 
5205 
Q 
5596 
s 
Fort Riley, K. T...... 
Lt. F. T. Bryan.. 
35 
W. S. Wood. 
8.25 
14. 
5049 
s 
Indianola, Texas. 
Mar. 12,1855 
Oapt. J. Pope. 
28 
Capt. Pope... 
6. 
16. 
6. 
Eyes dark; gums rose-colored ; 
feet black ; bill black. 
3952 
$ 
Coahuila, Mex. 
May, 1853.... 
Lt. Couch. 
231 
o 
feet very dark chestnut. 
3953 
<? 
232 
7.75 
15. 
5.87 
feet very dark chestnut. 
5492 
Q 
Petaluma, Cal. 
607 
5493 
<? 
576 
8.25 
5 50 
' * 
6014 
8 
Sacramento. 
