PURPLE MARTIN 499 



I stood on the edge of the meadows, one day in June, while twelve males were 

 skiuimiug the tops of the salt grass, tilting now to this side now to that to main- 

 tain balance in the air. Now one of thcra turns in his course and passes close 

 to my head, swift as an arrow and uncanny in his blackness, which has no 

 relieving spot of white, not even on the belly • * * His call uttered either 

 in greeting or protest as he passes is a harsh zhupe, zhupe. Again he will mount 

 upward with rapid strokes of his narrow pointed wings only to return again 

 to the lower level on a long sloping sail. Sometimes at the very summit of the 

 ascent he will come about into the wind and remain stationary, on rapidly 

 beating wings, before sliding away on the long downward sail. When flying 

 high over the town, late in the summer, the Martins' mastery of the air is par- 

 ticularly noticeable. They come in against the wind on set wings like small 

 three-cornered kites, steading themselves now and then with two or three short 

 wingbeats, and then, apparently tiring of this sport, they will drop through con- 

 siderable distances and, flapping rapidly, regain their former altitude. While 

 Martins flying low over the meadows are undoubtedly engaged in seeking food 

 many of their aerial evolutions, like those of other expert fliers, seem to be for 

 the shear joy of flight. * * * i watched a single Martin associated with a 

 band of Swifts maintaining a position directly over Congress Hall hotel, in the 

 face of a strong south wind, for at least half an hour. The birds would often 

 remain absolutely stationary in the air for several minutes at a time, evidently 

 supported by the upward currents of air deflected by the walls of the building. 

 Here was no search for food but some sort of enjoyment or play. 



While at rest the martin sits rather erectly and with an alert car- 

 riage, often uttering the characteristic note of contentment. Preen- 

 ing occupies considerable time, and several may be engaged in this 

 at once, offering a never-ending variety of poses. They are fond of 

 bathing and often do so on the wing. Audubon (1840) describes this 

 process unusually well : "They are very expert at bathing and drink- 

 ing while on the wing, when over a large lake or river, giving a sudden 

 motion to the hind part of the body, as it comes into contact with the 

 water, thus dipping themselves in it, and then rising and shaking their 

 body, like a water spaniel, to throw off the water." 



The behavior of martins in storms has been commented upon by early 

 and recent writers. Audubon says : 



The power of flight possessed by these birds can be best ascertained * • • 

 when they encounter a violent storm of wind. They meet the gust, and appear to 

 slide along the edge of it * * • The foremost front the storm with pertinacity, 

 ascending or plunging along the skirts of the opposing currents, and entering their 

 undulating recesses, as if determined to force their way through * * ♦ all 

 huddled together in such compact masses as to appear like a black spot. Not 

 a twitter is then to be heard from them by the spectator below ; but the instant 

 the farther edge of the current is doubled, they relax their efforts, to refresh them- 

 selves, and twitter in united accord, as if congratulating each other on the 

 successful issue of the contest. 



S. F. Rathbun (MS.) writes that on the night of August 1, 1931, at 

 Seattle, Wash., "not long after midnight there was a heavy thunder- 

 storm with a rather strong wind. I arose to close a window that faced 

 the storm, and the outdoors showed a pitchy darkness. To my sur- 



