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TACHYCINETA- ALBHJNEAI
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T A C H Y C I N E T A A L B I L I N E A {Lon-r.)
C ENTBAL-AAIEBICAN G B E EN SAVALLOAA'.
Petrochelidon lexicoptera (ncc Gm.), Lawr. Ann. Lyc. K. Y. vii. p. 317 (Ü8G1).
Petrochelidon albilinea, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y . viii. p. 2 (1863) ; Salvin, Ibis, 1SG6,
p . 192.
Petrochelidon littorea, Salvin, P. Z. S. 18G3, p. 1 8 9 ; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1SG4,
p. 347.
H iru n d o albilinea, Baird, Review Amer. B. p. 300 (18G5) ; Scl. & Salv. Nomencl.
Av. Neotr. p. 14 (1873) ; Zeledon, Cat. Av. de Costa Rica, p. 5 (1882) ; Salv. A
Godm. Biol. Centr.-Amer., Aves, i. p l. xv. flg. 1 (1883).
Tachycineta albilinea, Lawr. Alem. Bost. Soe. N. I I. ii. p. 271 (1874) : Salv. A
Godm. Biol. Centr.-Amer., Aves, i. p . 235 (1883) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds in Brit.
Alus. X. p p . 115, G31 (1884).
Hiru n d o albilineata. Gray, IIand-1. B. i. p. 71, no. 845 (18G9).
H inm d o leucopygia, Tacz. P. Z. S. 1880, p. 192 ; id. Orn. Pérou, i. p. 240 (1884) ;
id. op. cit. iii. p. 503 (1886).
7’. supra viridis ; uropygio albo : tectricibus alarum majoribus baud albo margiuatis: gcuis totis albis:
lineâ supralorali minore ncc trans basin froutis ductà.
Hab. iu Amcricii centrali usque ad Pcruviam.
Adult male. General colour above glossy steel-blue, more or less inclining to stcel-grccu, the bases to
tbe featliers of the mantle asby white ; rump wliite, with huir-like blackisli shaft-lincs ; scapulars
like the back ; wing-coveits blackish, externally edged with steel-blue j greater coverts, bastard-'
wing, primary-coverts, and quills blackish, with a slight gloss of dull blue or stcel-grceii on their
outer webs; upper tail-coverts steel-blue; tail-feathers black with a steel-blue gloss; head like
th e hack ; lores aud feathers below the eye vel\-ety black, with a narrow supraloral streak of
white; upper half of ear-coverts aud sides of neck glossy stecl-grceu ; lower half of ear-coverts,
cheeks, throat, and under surface of body ¡iure white ; the long under tail-covcrts with remains
of blackish longitudinal streaks near their ends ; the fore neck, breast, and sides of body rather
more ashy thau the rest of the under surface aud having narrow dusky shaft-lincs; ou the sides
of the upper breast a small patcli of steel-green ; axillaries and under wing-coverts ashy wiiitish,
with hair-like shaft-lincs of dusky browu ; quills below dusky, lighter along the inner webs.
Total leiigtli 4-8 inches, culmcn O'-i, wiug 3-Ü, tail I'O, tarsus Ü-4.
The white margins to the iuuer secondaries, from which this species derives its name, are either
signs of immaturity or winter plumage. In most Swallows these white edgings arc indications
of youth ; but all the spcciniciis as yet exainiucd by us which possessed this cliaractcr have been
also in winter plumage, which iu this speeies is uot diflicult to tell, as the under surface is much
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