SWALLOWS. 151 



a. 7-8 inches long. "Lustrous blue black; no purple 

 anywhere. The $ and young are much duller above, and more 

 or less white below, streaked with gray." (Coues.) 



h. The nest and eggs are essentially like those of the 

 White-bellied Swallow (HI) in every respect, except that the 

 eggs are larger than those of that bird, averaging .95 X .70 

 of an inch. 



c. The Purple Martins reach eastern Massachusetts on 

 the first of May, or earlier, and leave it about the first of Sep- 

 tember. They are very locally distributed, and in many places 

 are at present never seen. They are " very abundant upon 

 Cape Cod," and are perhaps as common in Boston * and other 

 cities as in the country. They are allied in many ways to the 

 White-bellied Swallows — particularly so in their habits. The 

 latter, however, become more common every year; but the 

 Martins have deserted many places, where they were once well 

 known, though they are probably multij^lying in their present 

 homes. 



" The Martin," says Wilson, " differs from all the rest of our 

 Swallows in the particular prey which he selects. W^asps, 

 bees, large beetles, particularly those called by the boys gold- 

 smiths^ seem his favorite game. I have taken four of these 

 large beetles from the stomach of a Purple Martin, each of 

 which seemed entire and even unbruised." 



" The flight of the Purple Martin unites in it all the swift- 

 ness, ease, rapidity of turning, and gracefulness of motion of 

 its tribe. Like the Swift of Europe, he sails much with little 

 action of the wing^s." 



d. " His usual note, peuopeuo peuo^ is loud and musical ; 

 but it is frequently succeeded by others more low and gut- 

 tural." To the above extract I have nothing of interest to 

 add. 



It nests only in or near cities, towns, and parent, and they are doubtless at least 



villag-es, in boxes put up for its accom- partly responsible for the slow but 



modation. Its superior size and stren^h steady diminution in the numbers of 



enable it to hold at bay the hordes of the Martins which has been generally 



House Sparrows which regard its snug- noted in New England during recent 



habitations with longing eyes, but these years. — W. B. 



insidious little pests have been seen to * None, so far as I am aware, now 



destroy the Martin's eggs or young breed iu or very near Boston. — W. B. 

 during the temporary absence of the 



