T h e present species of Swallow was discovered by the late Mr. G. N . Skinner, the
pioneer of ornithological discovery in Gnatemala. He sent home specimens to Mr. Gould,
who described them in 1858, and afterwards handed them over to the British Museum.
Messrs. Salvin and Godman afterwards found it themselves and have given the following
note in the ‘ Biologia ’ ;—“ Our first intimate acquaintance with this Swallow was in
February 1862, when staying at Cohan, where it was a common species, frequenting the
great church of the town; and our specimens were secured as they flew round over the
courtyard of the house where we were staying, and which was close to the church.
Having thus become familiar with the bird, we frequently observed it subsequently in
tbe bigber lands of the main Cordillera. Thus it was common at several points on the
road from the city of Guatemala to Antigua, and we also observed it in several parts of
the ./Vitos, at an elevation of at least 8000 feet above the sea. In its habits and mode of
flight we noticed nothing to distinguish it from other Hirundiues.” The localities
mentioned by Messrs. Salvin and Godman are Coban, Quiche, Totouicapam, Quezalte*
nango, Barranco de Los Cbocoyos, Calderas, tbe ridge above Barsinas, Villa Lobos, and
Aceytuno.
The descriptions are taken from birds collected by Messrs. Salvin and Godman, in
the British Museum, and the figure is drawn from one of this same series.