CHÆTTJRA SEMCOLLATaS. ‘
CnyETUPtA SEMICOLLÂRIS.
(HALF-COLLARED SPINE-TAILED SWIFT').
Aca n tki/lissemico lla rk . . . D e Saussure, Eev. Zool. 1859, p . 1L8.
Chtetura eemicollaris . . . Sc la ter. Ca t. A . B, p. 282 : P.Z.S. 1863, p . 99, e t 1S0Ó, p . 609.
F u a e escenti-nigra ; to rq u e semicoliaji postico albo : long, to ta 10.0, alæ 10.0, caudæ 3,0, ta rs i l'Oó.
Hab . Mexico (De Satissure).
This fine Spine-tailod Swift is closely allied in struotnre to the welldtnowii and widely
distributed Chcefura zonaris, but considerably exceeds it m size, and is, in fact, the largest and
most powerful bird o f the whole family. It appears to be very scarce in European eollectìons ;
the specimen in Sclater’s possession, whence our figure is taken, being the only one we have y et
met with. This is the more to he wondered at, as the country which it inhabits has lately been
explored by several intelligent collectors, who could hardly have passed over so steiking a species
had it come before their notice.
51. H. de S a u s su r e -the discoverer and describer of this species— gives us no infonnation
concerning it, except that it inhabits the “ gi-eat forests o f Mexico.” H e has not even thought
fit to record the province o f that extensive country in which it was obtained. His specimens
were deposited in the Geneva Museum, from which Sclatcr’s example was obtained by purchase.
A complete account o f the synonymy and distribution o f the American species o f this
group having been lately published by Sclater ill the Zoological Society’s “ Proceedings,”* we
think it w ill be sufficient on the present occasion to give a list o f them in a tabular form,
inserting in them places two species more recently described : namely C. sdateri, Pelzeln, Orn.
Bras. p. .56, from the vicinity o f Borba, and C. hraehjcerca, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 758, t.
xx x iv , from Xeberos in Eastern Peru.
a. I-rEUIPROCKE.
1. C. semicollaris (D e Saussure), e s Mexico, P . Z. S, 1865, p. 609.
2. C. b k cutata, Sclater, ex Brasil, mer. or. I. c. p. 609,
3. a zonaris (Shaw), e s Am. merid. e t c en tr. I. a. p. 609.
b. CnJiTUBA.
4 . C. p elasgia (L .), ex Am. bor. orien t. I. c. p . 610.
5. C. vatixii (Towns.), ex Am. bor. occ. e t c entrali, I. c. 611.
6. C. poliura (Temm ) , ex Caycimâ, I. c. p. 611.
7. C. brachycerca, Sel. e t Salv., e s Amazonia Pe ru v .
8. 0 . cinereiventris, S c l , ex Bra sil, m e r. or, I. c. p. 612.
9. C. sclateri, v. Pelz., ex Amazonia,
10. C. spinicauda (Temm.), ex Cayenna, I. c. p. 612.
11. C. ru tila (Vieill.), e s G u atem a la e t Mexico, I. c. p. 613.
* 1865, p. 593 e t seq.
Jui-T, 1S6S.