Martin WESTERN BIRDS 



perhaps no birds more useful than the Swallows exist. 

 They have been described as the light cavalry of the 

 avian army. Specially adapted for flight and unexcelled 

 in aerial evolutions, they have few rivals in the art of 

 capturing insects in midair. They eat nothing of value 

 to man except a few predaceous wasps and bugs, and in 

 return for their services in destroying vast numbers of 

 noxious insects ask only for harborage and protection. 

 It is to the fact that they capture their prey on the wing 

 that their peculiar value to the cotton grower is due. 

 Orioles do royal service in catching weevils on the bolls; 

 and Blackbirds, Wrens, Flycatchers, and others con- 

 tribute to the good work ; but when Swallows are migrat- 

 ing over the cotton fields they find the weevils flying in 

 the open and wage active war against them. As many 

 as forty-seven weevils have been found in the stomach of 

 a single Cliff Swallow." 



GENUS PROGNE : PURPLE MARTIN. 



Purple Martin: Progne subis subis. 

 FAMILY— SWALLOWS. 



The largest member of the Swallow family is the 

 Purple Martin, which is found in more or less abundance 

 in most parts of the United States, save the southern 

 portion of the Pacific Coast, where a similar bird is 

 known as the Western Martin. 



It is about eight inches long, with a sixteen-inch spread 

 of wings which gives it a larger appearance. The male 

 is a rich, deep purplish blue-black, with strong violet 

 reflections, the wings and tail being a dull brownish- 

 black; the tail is forked, and the eyes are full and dark. 

 The female and young are black above, but less lustrous 



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