_Hirundo euchrysea._—+Mihi.+
[16] Length 4⁶⁄₁₀, expanse —? flexure 4¹⁄₁₀, tail 1⁵⁄₁₀, rictus
⁵⁄₁₀, beak along culmen ²⁄₁₀, (nearly,) tarsus ⁴⁄₁₀, middle toe
⁵⁄₁₀, (nearly,) lateral toes ³⁄₁₀, equal.
Irides ——? beak black; feet purplish-black. Whole upper parts
metallic green, most splendidly glossed with golden as in many
Humming-birds. Wing quills and tail have less gloss, and the inner
webs are dull black. The tertials and the greater coverts have a
well defined band along the outer edge, of rich golden red, and the
middle and smaller coverts have a ribbon-like border of emerald
green. The green of the head descends around the rictus to the
chin. Throat, breast, belly, vent, and under tail-coverts, pure
white, soft and downy. First quill longest. Leg feathered to the
tarsus. Tail slightly forked.
This exceedingly lovely little Swallow, whose plumage reflects the
radiance of the Humming-birds, is found, as I am informed by Mr.
Hill, in the higher mountains formed by the limestone range of the
very centre of the island, as in Manchester, and St. Ann’s. It is not
until we ascend this central chain, that we meet with this sweet bird,
occasionally in the more open dells, but principally confined to the
singular little glens called cockpits.
The description is from a dried specimen in my possession, kindly
presented by Mr. Hill.