In the series in the British Jluseuin there is very little variation in plumage. The measurements
are as follows;—
Total length. Wing. Tail. Tarsus.
a. ! ad. Mexico (coll. J a r d . ) ‘X'g 4-05 ' Í -8 o'j.
b. J ail. „ (De S a m s a r e ) 5 1 4 1 5 ¡.75 0.4.5
..................................4-i) 4 2 1-7 0--1.Ó
d. Ad. „ { B o u c a r d ) 4-8 4 0 T7 0-4
e. Ad. „ [ S a l i e , ...............................................................5.0 4 1 p g 0'4o
/ . 2 ad. Oaxaca { B o u c a r d ) ........................................................ 4.5 4.4 j.g 0-45
g. Juv. Dueñas ( S a l v i a ) ..............................................................4.7 4 0 4 7 5 O'l
A. Juv. Costa R i c a ................................................................. ...... 4.45 4 7 0'-15
The young bird differs from the adult in being altogether browner, with no purple gloss, and
scarcely any atipearaiice o t dorsal streaks; the rmnp lias a pale rufous band 4 the wings and tail
are both brown ; crown of head dusky blackish, with a slight bine gloss, the tcathem round the
liind neck dingy hrown ; a slight shade of rufous on the forelicad and over the e y e ; ear.coverts,
sides of face, cheeks, throat, and chest dusky brown, with a sliglit wash of rufous on the th ro a t;
breast and abdomen white, the flanks and vent washed with pale fulvous brown, the under
tail-coverts dusky brown, margined with huffy white. Total leugth 4-2 inclie.s, wiug 4-2,
tarsus 0'45.
Another young bird in tlie Salvin-Godman Collection has the rufous portion of the plumage
more strongly marked thau the one described, aud bas tbe brown feathers of tbe upper surface
fringed with reddish browu or whity brown at the ends.
//ab. Central America, from Mexico to Guatemala.
I n 1827 Swainson described specimens of this Ciiff-Svvallow, whicli had been obtained
t)v Bullock on tbe Tableland of Mexico and at Heal del Monte, by the singularly
inappropriate name of Ilirundo meldnogaster, but iu his description be does not mention
the black colour of the belly as a character. Messrs. Salvin and Godman suggest that
the black spot on the throat may have been intended to be referred to by Swaiuson, but
in any case the wrong impression conveyed by the mime fully justified Dr. Sclater in
altering it to tbe more appropriate one of swainsoni. The name of coronata, published
by Lichtenstein in a price-list of Mexican birds in 1830, is unaccompanied by any
description, and cannot therefore be used.
Swainson’s Cliff-Swallow is nearly allied to tbo North-Aincriean species, P.pijrrho-
nota, but is easily distinguished by its chestnut forehead. In this latter cliaracter it
resembles P .fu lv a , but the last-named bird has no black patcli on the lower tliroat.
The range of tbe species has been well sumiucd up by Messrs. Salvin and Godman
whose words we quote I'rom tbe ‘ Biologia ’ “ Though P. swainsoni has been met with
hy many travellers in Afexico, we have nothing recorded of it beyoiid certain localities
where it occurs. Prof. Sumichrast says it is peculiar to the plateau of Alexico, and that
it rarely occurs elsewhere; still it has been fouud in the State of Oaxaca, and, even
hy Sumichrast himself, subsequently near tbe city of Tehuantepec, which is situated at
but a slight elevation above the Pacific Ocean. Iu Guafemala it only twice came under
our observation—once when vve found it flying over the open land near Dueñas, at au
elevation of nearly 5000 feet above the sea, and again near Godines, above the mountain-
lake of Aiitlan, as higli as 7000 feet. On both occasions the birds were flying low,
hawking for insects after the manner of their kindred.”
The specimen from Costa Rica in the British Aluseum rests upon the authority of a
dealer, and tbe locality requires confirmation.
The figures in the Plates are taken from Alexican specimens in the Salvin-Godman
Collection, and the descriptions from the series in the British Aluseum.