DESCRIPTION Ob' TWO SUPPOSED NEW SPECIES OF SWIFTS. 
BY 
Robert Ridgway. 
Curator of the Department of Birds. 
Chaetura lawrencei, sp. nov. 
Sp. Chap. : Similar to C. guianensis Ilartert, but smaller, longer upper 
tail-coverts darker (outer web almost wholly glossy blackish), and 
flanks paler slate-gray, in marked contrast with the glossy black under 
tail-coverts. Wing, 3.85-4.20; tail (to base of spines), 1.35-1.45. 
Habitat: Grenada, West Indies; also, Tobago, and Trinidad, or 
Venezuela1? 
Type, No. 84841, U. S. National Museum, $ adult, Grenada, May 7, 
1881; J. G. Wells. (Length, 44 inches, extent of wings, 10 inches.) 
An example in the collection of Messrs. Salvin and Godman, of un- 
certain locality (labeled "Venezuela?") is quite identical with the 
type in coloration, but is considerably smaller, the length of the wing 
and tail being the minimum of those given above. It is labeled "Chee- 
tura salvini Ilartert" (unpublished synonym of C. guianensis Hartert); 
but, having a typical specimen of the latter for 'comparison, from 
British Guiana, and also five good specimens from Costa Rica and 
Nicaragua, I feel quite certain it is different, all of the six specimens 
of C. guianensis ha ving wholly gray upper tail-coverts and much darker 
flanks, the dark gray color of the breast gradually shading into the 
glossy black of the under tail-coverts. 
The two forms are closely allied to C. cinereiventris Scl., of Brazil, 
and the three should probably be considered geographical races of one 
species rather than distinct species, a more exact idea of their relation- 
ship being expressed by the following nomenclature: 
1. Chcetura cinereiventris Scl. Brazil. 
2. Chcetura cinereiventris guianensis (Hartert). Guiana to Nicaragua. 
3. Chcetura cinereiventris lawrencei Ridgw. Grenada; also, Tobago, 
Trinidad, or Venezuela? 
The three forms maybe distinguished by the following characters: 
a1. Belly and flanks light gray, like breast, abruptly contrasted with glossy black of 
under tail-coverts. 
bx. Upper tail-coverts black, or with only inner webs edged with gray; rump, 
lighter gray; larger (wing 4.20-4.30). Hob., Brazil C. cinereiventris. 
Proceedings National Museum, Vol. XVI-No. 923, 
43 44 
b-. Upper tail-coverts dark gray, with outer webs glossy blackish; rump darker 
gray; smaller (wing 3.85-4.20). Hab., Grenada, West Indies; also, Tobago, 
Trinidad, or Venezuela . C. cinereiventris lawrencei. 
a2. Belly and flanks blackish gray, not conspicuously different from color of under 
tail-coverts. Upper tail-coverts with both webs gray, like rump. Hab., 
Guiana to Nicaragua C. cinereiventris guianensis. 
Cypseloides cherriei, sp. nov. 
Sp. Char.: Adult (No. 127069, U. S. National Museum, Volcan de 
Irazu, Costa Rica; George K. Clierrie). Similar in size and general 
form to C. brunneitorques (Lafr.), but tail quite truncated, with feath- 
ers less rigid and only very minutely mucronate. Color, uniform sooty 
black (much darker than in C. brunneitorques), the under surface some, 
what paler, especially anteriorly, where becoming light grayish on the 
chin. A large, sharply defined, spot of silky white on each side of the 
forehead, immediately over the lores, and a short streak of the same 
color immediately behind the eye; lores velvety black, in very sharp 
contrast with the white spot above them. Length (skin), 5 inches; 
wing, 6; tail, 1.87; tarsus, 0.50. 
This apparently new species needs no comparison with any other, 
the peculiar white markings of the head being sufficient to at once dis 
tinguish it. 
The type specimen was generously presented by the authorities of 
the Costa Rica National Museum. 
NEW SPECIES OE SWIFTS RIDGWAY.