SWALLOWS 389 



and Western Forms of the Nutcracker," Proc. U. S. 

 Nat. Mies., 1889, pp. 425-432, and Zool, 1889, pp. 

 441-449. 



For an account of the discovery of the nest of the 

 Nutcracker by Theobald and Fischer, see Newton, 

 Proc. Zool Soc, 1867, p. 162, and Yarrell, "Brit. 

 Birds," 4th ed. Some recent notes on the habits of 

 this bird, as observed in the Riffel Alp, Canton 

 Valley, Switzerland, are given by Mr. Sclater, Zool., 

 1898, p. 474. 



Fam. HIRUNDINID^. 



PURPLE MARTIN. Hirundo 'purpurea (Linnseus). 

 Length, 7'5 m.; bill, 0*5 in.; wing, 5-75 in.; tarsus, 

 0-5 in. 



Hah. North America generally, wintering in South 

 America, Brazil, and Cuba, 



One, Kingston, co. Dublin, 1840 : Yarrell, fide F. M'Coy, 



"Hist. Brit. Birds.;" Ussher, "Birds of Ireland," p. 



.'599. In the Museum of Science and Art, Dublin. 

 One, Colne Bridge, Huddersfield, 1854: Hobkirk, "Hud- 



derstield, its Hist, and Nat. Hist.," 1859, p. 144; 1868, 



p. 218. (Doubtful.) 



Ohs. Two others are mentioned by Yarrell as 

 having been obtained at Kingsbury Reservoir, Mid- 

 dlesex, in Sept. 1842 ; but his credulity was imposed 

 upon by the production of relaxed skins obtained 

 from a dealer. A specimen of doubtful authenti- 

 city, said to have been shot near Macclesfield, was 

 sold at Stevens's, with other birds from the Maccles- 

 field Museum, on June 14, 1861, and realised .£1, 8s. 



