Chætura melanopygia sp. nov.
Reading edition
Related to C. stictilæma, but much larger, with feathers of upper breast more heavily margined with blackish, and without any trace of a light rump-band.
Description of type, collector's No. 4986 Congo Exp. A. M. N. H., ♂ ad. Avakubi, Ituri District, Belgian Congo, Aug. 15, 1913.
Upper parts brownish-black (chætura-black, Ridgw.) becoming black on wings and tail, with faint violet and green reflections (green on freshly molted feathers). Ear coverts drab, bordered with fuscous-black; feathers of throat pale smoke-gray, margined with fuscous, those of upper breast similar, but heavily bordered with fuscous-black, consequently with a very pronounced "scaly" appearance; lower breast growing darker, so that the dark borders are less conspicuous, and the feathering of the belly completely fuscous-black with slight oily gloss. Under wing coverts mouse-gray with darker edges, flanks and under tail-coverts black with slight greenish gloss. Tail slightly rounded.
Iris dark brown, bill black, feet bluish, shading to dusky brown on tips of toes and claws. Sexual organs enlarged.
Length (skin) 145 mm.; wing 164; tail 49.5; bill (exposed culmen), 7.5; metatarsus 13.
Only one specimen secured, out of two or three of these swifts that were flying about over the Ituri River, in company with several examples of Chætura cassini. In spite of our long stay in this region, the species was not again positively recognized; but Chætura cassini, C. stictilæma and C. sabinei were all of common occurrence there.