xiv APPENDIX TO PREVIOUS VOLUMES. 



~6th of October 1845. The other was shot by the game- 

 keeper of Mr. Latouche of Luggela, county of Wicklow, and 

 is now in the collection of Mr. Warren. 



5. Progne jnirparea. Purple Martin. Progne differs 

 from Hirundo chiefly in having the bill stouter, and in some 

 other unimportant distinctions, not appreciable without a 

 comparison of specimens representative of the various genera 

 into which the Hirundina? have latterly been divided. 



The Purple Martin has the wings as long as the deeply- 

 emarginate tail ; the plumage silky, shining, purplish -black, 

 with steel-blue reflexions ; the quills and tail-feathers brown- 

 ish-black ; the tarsi and toes purplish-black. The female 

 has the lower parts light grey, streaked with black. Length 

 *l\ inches. 



Generally distributed in North America, where it is as 

 great a favourite as our Window Martin is in England. 

 Wilson, Audubon, and Nuttall have given full and interest- 

 ing accounts of its habits. The latter author says : — " This 

 beautiful species, like many others of the family, seeks out 

 the dwellings of man, associating himself 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 protection of man, he twitters forth his 

 gratitude, and is everywhere welcomed to a home. So eager 

 is he to claim this kind of protection, that sometimes he 

 ventures hostilities with the Blue-birds and domestic pigeons, 

 whom he often forces to abandon their hereditary claims. 

 Satisfied with their reception and success, like so many 

 contented 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 favour : he has even the courage 

 to attack the redoubtable King-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 

 prelude succeeds an animated and incessant musical chatter- 



