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Show BIRDS. 39 fore, conclude that it ranges throughout both Americas, but it is not found in the Old World. Wilson describes this bird as a great favourite with the inhabitants of North America, both European and Indian, who erect boxes and other contrivances near their houses for it to build in. At Bahia Blanca, the females were beginning to lay in September, (corresponding to our March): they had excavated deep holes in a cliff of compact earth, close by the side of the larger burrows inhabited by the ground parrot of Patagonia, (Psittacara Patagonica.) I noticed several times a small flock of these birds, pursuing each other, in a rapid and direct course, flying low, and screaming in the manner so characteristic of the English Swift, (Hirundo Apus, Linn.) 2. PROGNE MoDESTA. Gould. PLATE v. Ilirundo concolor, Gould, in Proceedings of the Zoological Society. P. nitide ct:erulescenti-nigm. Long. tot. 6 unc ; ala>, 5!; caudro, 2~ ; tarsi, ~· The upper and under surface has not so strongly a marked purple shade, as in the P. pwpurea. The primaries and feathers of the tail, however, have a greenish gloss, perhaps slightly more metallic. Tail not so deeply forked as in P. pw]Jurea, which is owing to the two external feathers on each side not being so much prolonged and bent outward, as in that species. Nostrils of less size than in the latter, although the beaks differ but little. Claws and feet are much less strong, than might have been anticipated, even proportionally to the less dimensions of this species compared with the P. purpurea. Total length Wings .. Tail ... Inches. 6 5! 2i Tarsi . . . . . . . . . . :Middle toe from tip of claw to joint Habitat, James Island, Galapagos Archipelago, (October). Male. Incheti. · i'f-u This swallow was observed only on this one island of the group, and it was there very far from common. It frequented a bold cliff of lava overhanging the sea. Had not Mr. Gould characterized it as a distinct species, I should have considered it only as a small variety, produced by an uncongenial site, of the Progne pmpurea. I can perceive no difference whatever from that bird, |
