88 The Iiish Naturalist. 



and the Martins often use the crevices about the eaves of the 

 buildings themselves, and even make their homes among 

 the factories and warehouses of the cities, where they may be 

 heard twittering overhead, or seen gliding swiftly through the 

 crowded business thoroughfares. No bird is more of a 

 favourite with men, and even the Indians and Negroes in the 

 south hollow out gourds and hang them on trees for the 

 Martins to nest in, so that they may have them around their 

 primitive homes. 



The nest is rather a rough structure, built of straws and 

 other rubbish, and lined with feathers. The eggs are four to 

 six in number, pure glossy white ; they are about the length 

 of an English Swift's, but average a tenth of an inch more in 

 breadth, and are much more glossy. During the nesting 

 season the pair of birds keep close to their home, and the male 

 assists the female ; fights with the introduced English Sparrows 

 are now common, and one of our worst charges against the 

 strangers is that they drive away our beloved Martins. 

 Individually the Martins seem more than a match for the 

 Sparrows, but the latter are so numerous, so persistent, so cun- 

 ning, and so unscrupulous in their methods of warfare, that in 

 the long run the Martins have the worst of it. Sparrows will 

 destroy the Martins' eggs if they are left unprotected, and 

 it is not unusual for a number of the rascals to keep the parent 

 birds engaged in a hot fight while others sneak in and destroy 

 the nest and eggs. Is it any wonder that the governments of 

 many of our cities, and even some of our States, have taken the 

 matter up, and that in many places bounties are now offered 

 for dead Sparrows ? 



In fair fight, few birds are a match for the Martin, and should 

 a hawk, crow, or even eagle, come near the martin-house it 

 will be instantly attacked, the smaller bird relying on its 

 powers of flight for victory. Some farmers even say that the 

 Martins are a protection to their poultry yards, giving warning 

 as soon as a hawk comes in sight, and harassing the marauder 

 should he approach too near. 



The Purple Martin cannot be confused with any other swal- 

 low of Europe or North America. It might be said to be the 

 least swallow-like of them all. It is quite large, seven and 

 a-half inches long by fifteen and a-half in extent, of robust 

 build, with strong feet and bill, the latter half an inch in length. 



