Teacher's Leaflet. 



843 



A mother tree swallow and her family. 



Photo by J. T. Lloyd 



pure white breast with no band across it, and these peculiarities distinguish it 

 from all the other species. 



Lessox LI. 



THE PURPLE MARTIN. 



Purpose. — To lead the pupils to try to induce this bird to live among 

 us as it did in the happy years before the English sparrow was introduced. 



Observations: 



(i). Compare the Purple Martin with the swallows and describe how 

 it differs in size and color. 



(2). Where did the martins build their nests before America was 

 civilized? 



(3). Where do they like best to nest now? 



(4). How do they benefit us and how can we induce them to come 

 to us? 



Facts for the teacher. — The Purple Martin is a larger bird than even the largest 

 swallows, being eight inches in length, while the Bam Swallow is not quite seven. 

 The male is shining steel-blue above and below, while the female is brownish above 

 and has a gray throat, brownish breast and white beneath. The Martins originally 

 nested in hollow trees, but for centuries they have been cared for by man. The 

 Indians put out empty gourds for them to nest in and as soon as America was 

 settled the people built Martin boxes everyivhere. When the English sparrows 

 came they took possession of these boxes and the Martins have, to a large extent, 

 disappeared. They are most beneficial birds, as they feed upon the insects which 



