d is tin c t o n th e w ing-cove rts a n d se conda rie s. T h e u n d e r su rfa c e is n e a rly u n ifo rm so o ty brown,
w ith aaliy m a rg in s , m o re d is tin c t o n th e b re a s t a u d abdomen, th e u n d e r ta il-c o v e rts r a th e r b ro ad ly
tip p ed w ith white.
Th e se rie s in th e B r itis h M u s eum me a sure s :—
Total IcngtJi. Wiug. Tail. Tarsus,
iu. in. in. in.
a. tS ad. R io N e g ro [ H u d s o n ) 8 '3 5 G 3 35 Ü 55
ad- » „ 7-8 5-5 3-15 0-55
c. ? im m . C liu p a t [ D n r n f o r d ] ..........................................................7 ’8 5--1-5 3 '2 0 6
d. ad. C h ili [ B r i d g e s ) ................................................................... 7-8 5--1-5 3 ’2 0*6
e. ¿ ad. M en d o z a [ JF e is sh a u p t)............ 7 - i 5 ’55 3 T 5 0-6
/ • c? ad. „ „ 7-7 5-45 3-25 OB
g . 2 ad. R io N e g ro [ H u d s o n ) ..........................................................7 7 5 '3 2-9 0 '5 5
h. $ ad. Alendoza ( ír« s sA a ? í/jC ............................................................7 ’2 5 ’3 2 B O'G
i- 2 ad. „ „ 7-7 5-3 3 0 0'55
L ? a d . „ „ 7 7 5-6 3 T 5 0B 5
Hab. P a ta g o n ia , n o rthw a rd s , ap p a re n tly to tlie A rg e n tin e R ep u b lic , a n d we stw a rd s a s fa r as Mendoza.
T h e details of the range of this species are hy no means satisfactorily recorded, and
more information is desirable. The series of skins in the British Museum indicates that
it is an inhabitant of Patagonia, and that it extends as far as Mendoza. All tlie other
records are involved in great obscurity, and without the evidence of specimens they
must all be received with more or less suspicion, the more so that until quite recently
the species was confounded, even hy authors of repute, witli P. purpurea, and in all
probability witli P. domestica also. The latter is a large form of P. chalybea, resident
in South-eastern Brazil, while P. purpurea is only a winter visitor to South America.
The following note is given by Mr. Darwin in his account of the A^oyage of the
‘ Beagle ’ :—
“ My specimens were obtained at Alonte Video (November), and Bahia Blanca, 39°
S. (September). At the latter place tlie females were beginning to lay in September
(corresponding to our March); they had excavated deep holes in a cliiF of compact
earth, close by tlio side of the larger burrows inhabited by the Ground Parrot of Patagonia
[Psittacara patagónica). I noticed several times a small llock of these birds,
pursuing each other, in a rapid and direct course, flying low, and screaming iu the
manner so characteristic of the English Swift.”
Not a single specimen of Progne collected hy Mr. Darwin appears to have passed
to the British Museum, and consequently wc are unable to state wlicthor the sjiecies
obtained by him at Monte Video ivas the same as the one met with at Bahia Blanca,
which was, of course, the true P . furcata.
The late Mr. Ilenry Durnford, writing on the birds observed by him in Central
Patagonia, says that this species was a spring and summer visitor. “ Observed commonly
tlirougliout our jouruey wherevor there were steep cliffs or rocks. I took eggs near
Tombo Point on the 30tli of December. They bad all left Cliupat by tho 1st of March.”
It was “ pretty common about the Tosca cliff, up the Chupat valley, in the crevices
of the rooks in which they were breeding. The male is uniform glossy steel-blue, and
easily distinguishahlo from tho female, whose underparts are speckled with grey, lightest
about the vent. Both sexes uttered harsh screams whilst wo were sittiiig under the
cliff. A few seen at Niufas Point.” Although he spoke of the spoeies as Progne purpurea,
we know hy a specimen from the Chupat valley in tho British Museum, collected
hy Mr. Durnford on the 9th of November, 1875, that the species is really P. furcata.
Mr. Barrows gives the following note :—■
“ Specimens were taken at Bahia Blanca, where the hirds were abundant, and they
were frequently seen in the Sierra de la Ventana. While at Carhud and Puan (March
21st to April 9th, 1881) none w-ere seen, hut the weather w as so cold that doubtless they
had gone north. At Concepcion this spoeies was never observed.”
The following is Mr. W. H. Hudson’s account (Arg. Orn.) of the species
“ This Purple Martin is occasionally seen in the eastern provinces of La Plata when
migrating, but has not been found nesting anywhere so far north as Buenos Ayres. I
met with it breeding at Bahia Blanca on the Atlantic coast, and on tlio Ilio Negro,
where it is very common. It arrives in Patagonia late in September, and leaves before
tho middle of February. On the 1-lth of that month I saw ono flock flying north, but
it was the last. It breeds in boles under the eaves of houses or in walls, and its nest
is like that of P. chahjhca; but many also breed in holes in the steep hanks of the lUo
Negro. They do not, however, excavate holes for themselves, but take possession of
natural crevices and old forsaken burrows of tbe Burrowing Parrot (Conuruspatachoni-
cue). In size, flight, maimers, and appearance the Purple Martin closely resembles
Progne chalybea, tho only difference being in the dark plirmago of the under surface.
The language of tbe two birds is also identical; the loud excited scream when the nest
is apprcaehed, tho various other notes when the hirds sweep about in tho air, and tbe
agreeably modulated and leisurely-uttered song are all possessed by tho two species
without the slightest difference in strength or intonation. This circumstance appears
very remarkable to me, because, though two species do sometimes possess a few notes
alike, tho greater part of their language is generally different; also because birds of the
same species in different localities vary more iu language than in arry otlier particular.
This last observation, liowever, applies more to resident than to migratory species.”
The notes on P. purpurea given by Mr. Durnford {‘ Ibis,’ 1877, p. 108) and Mr.
Gibson (‘ Ibis,’ 1880, p. 22), in which tliey speak of that species as nesting near Buenos
Ayres, must belong to P. domestica. In tho ‘ Catalogue of Birds ’ they have been
placed under tlie beading of the present species, and tliis is probably a mistake.
The specimen which tlio late Mr. While stated tliat he had obtained at Fiierte de
Andalgala, Catamarca, on the 28tb of September, 1880, determined liy Dr. Scbitor as
3 0 2