b row n b a se s to tb e f e a th e r s ; th ro a t, c h e s t, a n d sides o f b ody b rown. T o ta l len g th 7 in ch e s , cul-
m e n 0*45, w in g 5-45, t a il 2-9, ta r su s OB.
Young. M u c h b row n e r th a n th e a d u lts , w ith o n ly a s lig h t b lu e gloss ; q u ills frin g ed w ith Avhity b rown ;
b ill yellow a t gape .
T h e fo llowing m e a su rem en ts a re ta k e n from tlie se rie s o f sp e c im en s in th e B ritish M u s e um :—
Total longth. 5Ving. Tail. Tarsus,
in. in. in. in,
fl. (J ad. S p a n ish tow n {JF. T. M a r c h ) ..............6 B 5 '7 2 B OB
b. (J ad . J am a ic a „ ....................................... 7*2 5B) 2*8 0B 5
c. S ad. „ {Mus. S a lv in G o d m a n ) .................................. 7 B 5 7 2*8 0'5o
d. J u v . „ „ .................... ..............................................G-8 5-15 2 75 0B5
e. ? ad. „ ( i r . T. M a r c h ) ................................................7B 5 B 2*8 OB
/ . ad. P o r to R ico ( / / . B r y a n t ) .............................................6 '8 5 B 2 '8 0B 5
¿r. ad. „ „ .............................................. 6-8 5-8 2-9 0B 5
A. <J ad. „ „ .............................................. 6-9 5B 5 2 B OB
2 ad. „ „ .............................................. 7-3 5B 5 2*8 0B5
A. 2 ad. „ „ ..............................................G-8 5-5 2-75 0-55
I. 2 ad. „ [Dr. G u n d l a c h ) ......................................... 7-0 5 '5 2-55 0 '5 5
m. J u v . „ [ S w i f t ) ............................................................. 7-3 5-4 2'G 0-55
n . J u v . „ „ ......... ........................................................... 7*3 5-25 2 7 0 u5
0 . 2 ad. „ (G. L a t i m e r ) ............................................... 7-0 5 ‘5 2-55 0-55
p . ^ ju v . S. D om in g o [C. G. M a c G r e g o r ) .G-5 5-55 2-G 0-55
q. cJ ad. D om in ic a (F. O i e r ) ........ 7*3 5-7 2 ‘8 Q-5
r . 2 ad. S. L u c ia [ S e m p e r ) ............................................................G-7 5-15 2-45 0-5
T lic fem a le o f P . dominicensis a n d th e y o u n g b ird s a re ve ry d ifficult to d is tin g u ish from Progne
chalybea, au d , in d e ed , th e y o u n g o f th e two species a rc q u ite in s ep a rab le . T h e o ld female o f
P . dominicensis apjie a rs to liave th e th ro a t m o re a shy h rown t h a u th e same se.x o f P . chalybea, w hich
is de c id ed ly d u lle r b rown. T h e r e a re g en e ra lly also some sm a ll d u sk y s h a f t- s tr e a k s o n th e th ro a t
a u d b r e a s t in P . chalybea, o f which we c an find n o tra c e iu P . dominicensis.
Hab, S. D om in g o , J am a ic a , a n d th e L e sse r Antille s.
This beautiful siiecies is confined to the AA'est-Indian Islands, and is a well-known
inhabitant of Jamaica. It also occurs iu San Domingo. Air. Cory found it not uncommon
near Samana, aud states that althougli none were taken elsewhere, it is probably
abundant in some localities. AVe have seen several specimens from Porto Rico, where
it was found to bo very plentiful by Air. E. C. Taylor in 18G3.
In Dominica, Air. P. Obcr writes, “ tho first seen was shot at Alountain Lake,
2300 feet above tho sea-level, on the 23rd of Alarcli; later in the season I found a few
on the Atlantic side, in June, breeding in the cliffs at Batalie, on the Caribbean shore.”
The same traveller also met with the species in the islands of Alartinique and Grenada.
One specimen only was observed on the latter island, and it is probably rarer on the
southern islands of the Lesser Antilles. The late Sir AA'illiam Jardinc (Ann. & Alag.
Nat. Ilist. xviii. 184G, p. 120) gives an account of Progne dominicensis in the island of
Tobago, from the notes of Air. Kirk; hut w® believe that the species of Purple Martin
inhabiting that island will turn out to be Progne chalybea, with which P. dominicensis
was confounded by naturalists for a great many years.
Air. Gosse gives the following account of the species:—
“ In Jamaica it is very common, at least in the lowlands and inferior mountain-
ranges, during the summer; some remain with us during the winter, hut as there is a
very marked diminution of their numbers, I conclude that a large l)ody of them migrate
ou the approach of that season, probably to Central America. About the end of Alarch
we see them in great numbers, assembled early in the morning on the topmost branches
of the lofty cotton-trees, which at tliat season are leafless. On these they crowd so
closely, side hy side, that I have known five to be killed at one discharge. In the
autumn we observe exactly the same habit, and perhaps we may trace some analogy hero
to those periodical congregations of other species which are kuowu to be connected with
migration.............
“ ................ The Blue Swallow has the same propensity to bring up his family in
darkness as his purple brother. The stipe of an old palm, whose porous centre decays,
while the iron fibres of the exterior remain strong, is his ordinary resort. At the
beginning of April, I observed several pairs flying in and out of liolcs, bored, I suppose,
by the AVoodpeckcr, in the stipe of a dead cocoanut still tall and erect, but a mere
leafless post, tottering in the breeze and ready to fall. At the middle of Alay, Sam
observed several pairs flying in and out of liolos, about two inches in diameter, beneath
the eaves of Belmont house.
“ Near the end of June, when on my way in a coasting-hoat from Blucfields to
Kingston, I was lying wind-bound in Starvegut Bay. There the inhospitable shore is
strewn with immense fragments of limestone rock, honeycombed and fretted into holes,
through which the surf breaking furiously, finds vent in perpendicular jets aud spouts
of water, or in columns of spray resembling steam from au cnginc-pipe, accompanied
with a crashing roar. ATet I observed with interest that the Blue Swallows were frequenting
these rocks, and I noticed one repeatedly going iu and out of a small hole near the
summit of a rugged mass, separated from the shore, and comi)letely isolated from the
boiling surf. Lansdown Guilding, in some notes on the Zoology of the Caribbean Islands
(Zool. Journ. iii. p. 408), observes: ‘ AA’c have but few of tliis family iu St. Vincent:
among them is a Swallow, which roosts and, I believe, builds in the rock of tlio sea-shore.’
‘ It is curious,’ he adds, ‘ to observe the bird iu calm weather skimming patiently along the
sea iu search of insects, evidently ignorant of the fact that they are confined to frosh
water, and do not sport on the surface of salt ii'aters.’ I cannot agree, however, with
this accomplished naluraJist here: that the Swallows do oeeasioually skim over the sea,
is undeniable ; and that gnats and other minute insects arc also in the habit of frequenting
the salt water, thougli not iu such numbers as over the fresh ponds and rivers, is no
less certain, at least in Jamaica.”