PURPLE MARTIN. 599 



they visit the vicinity of Boston, and penetrate even 

 to the cold regions of Hudson's Bay, where they arrive 

 in May, and retire in August ; about the 20th of the 

 same month they also leave the state of Pennsylvania. 

 In their haste to return to their natal climes, they some- 

 times expose themselves to fatal accidents from change- 

 ble and unfavorable weather. In the maritime parts of 

 Massachusetts, and probably throughout the state, a few 

 years ago, after a rainy midsummer, many were found 

 dead in their boxes, and they have since been far less 

 numerous than formerly. 



This beautiful species, like many others of the fam- 

 ily, seeks out the dwellings of man, associating him- 

 self equally with the master and the slave, the colonist 

 and the aboriginal. To him it is indifferent, 'whether 

 his mansion be carved and painted, or humbled into the 

 hospitable shell of the calabash or gourd. Secure of an 

 asylum for his mate and young, while under the protec- 

 tion of man, he twitters forth his gratitude, and is ev- 

 ery where welcomed to a home. So eager is he to claim 

 this kind of protection, that sometimes he ventures hos- 

 tilities with the Blue-Birds and domestic Pigeons, whom 

 he often forces to abandon their hereditary claims. Satis- 

 fied with their reception and success, like so many con- 

 tented and faithful domestics, they return year after year 

 to the same station. The services of the Martin in 

 driving away Hawks and Crows from the premises he 

 claims, are also important inducements for favor ; he 

 has even the courage to attack the redoubtable Kinff- 

 Bird, when his visits are too familiar near the nest. 



At the approaching dawn, the merry Martin begins 

 his lively twitter, which, continuing for half a minute, 

 subsides until the twilight is fairly broken. To this pre- 

 lude succeeds an animated and incessant musical chat- 



