Plate CCCLXXXV. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.
Bill narrower than in the preceding species; wings extremely long,
extending far beyond the tail, which is emarginate. Upper part of head
deep green, gradually shaded into the dark purple of the hind neck;
back rich grass-green, rump and upper tail-coverts carmine purple; a
line over the eye, cheeks, and all the lower parts pure white,
excepting the wing-coverts, which are light grey. Female with the
upper part of the head and hind neck light greyish-brown, glossed with
green; the back as in the male, the rump greyish-brown; lower parts
white, anteriorly tinged with grey.
_Male_, 4-10/12, wing 4-6/12.
California, Rocky Mountains, and Oregon Territory. Migratory.
Hirundo thalassinus, Swains. Syn. of Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag.
for 1827, p. 365.
Violet-green Swallow, Hirundo thalassina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v.
iv. p. 597.