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CHF-RAMCECA LEIICO STER N UM
CHERAMCECA LEUCOSTERNUM (6W4
AVniTE-BREASTED SWALLOW.
Ilirundo leucosternus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1840, p. 172.
Atticora leucosternon, Gray, Geu. B. i. p. 58 (1845); Gould, B. Austr. fol. pi. 12
(1848) ; Cass. Cat. Hiruud. ilu s. Philad. Acad. p. G (1853) ; Higgles, Orn. Austr.
pi. 21. fig. 2; Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 73, no. 8G3 (1809).
Atticora leucosterna, Bp. Consp. i. p. 337 (1850).
Cheramofca leucosterna. Cab. Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 49 (1850) ; Gould, Handb. B.
Austr. i. p. 115 (1865).
Cheramceca leucosternon, Ramsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. ii. p. 179 (1878).
Cheramceca leucostemum, Sharpe, Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus. x. p. 171 (1885) ; Ramsay,
Tab. List Austr. B. p. 3 (1888).
C. pileo albo, p lum is b a s a lite r b ru n n eo va ricg a tis : su b tù s alba.
Hab. in A u s tra lia .
A d u lt. U p p e r surfa c e p a r tic o lo u r e d ; crow n o f h e a d w h ite , w ith b row n c e n tre s to th e f e a th e r s ; nape
a n d h in d n e c k a s well as th e sides o f th e n e c k b row n ; m a n tle a n d u p p e r ba ck w h ite , th e la te r a l
f e a th e rs bla ck ish a lo n g th e o u te r web ; sc apula rs, low e r b a c k , rum p , a n d u p p e r ta il-c o v e rts b lu e -
b la ck ; le a s t win g -co v e rts b row n ; rem a in d e r o f th e w in g -co v e rts , b a s ta rd -w in g , p rim a ry -c o v c rts ,
a nd q u ills b lu e -b la ck , b row n e r o n th e in n e r webs o f th e f e a th e r s ; ta il- f e a th e r s b la c k i s h ; lo re s
b la ck ish b row n ; c a r-co v e rts b row n ; che eks, th ro a t, fo re n e c k , an d b r e a s t white , e x te n d in g
s lig h tly down th e flanks ; c e n tr e o f low e r b re a s t, abdomen, a n d u n d e r ta il-co v e rts b lu c -b la ck
th ig h s w h ite ; axilla rie s a n d u n d e r w ing-cove rts w h ite , w ith a s lig h t wa sh o f sm o k y brown
q u ills d u sk y b row n : “ bill bla ck ish brown ; legs a n d f e e t g re e n ish grey ; iris d a rk reddish b rown ’
{ J . Gould). T o ta l le n g th 5*5 inche s, c u lm en 0 7 5 , w ing 3-95, ta il 3 , ta r s u s O'u.
Young. Differs from th e ad u lt in h av in g th e whole h e ad b row n , w ith o n ly a s tr e a k o f w h ite a c ro s s th e
forehe ad c.xtcnding b a ckw a rd s above th e eye ; th e quills edged with white. T o ta l le n g th -I'G
in ch e s , w in g 3 '8 , ta il 3 T 5 , ta rsu s 0 5.
Hab. Confined to th e S o u th e rn , In te r io r , a n d S o u th -w e s te rn p o rtio n s o f A u s tra lia .
T h is peculiar species of Swallow was first discovered by Mr. Charles Coxen, who sent a
specimen shot ou the banks of the Namoi to Mr. Gould in 1840. Dr. E. P. Ramsay gives
its habitat as New South "Wales, the interior of the Continent, Victoria, South Australia,
West and South-west Australia. It appears occasionally in collections from the Swan
River, but is hy no means a common species in museums.
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