218 PURPLE MARTIN. 



tion northward in our own country, we may fairly presume that its 

 flicrht extends to the south as far as Terra del Fuego. If the conjecture 

 be well founded, we may with some certainty place this useful and 

 deli'^htful companion and friend of the human race as the first in the 

 order of birds of passage. Nature has furnished it with a lengthy, 

 strong, and nervous pinion; its legs are short too, as not to impede its 

 passage ; the head and body are flattish ; in short, it has every indica- 

 tion from bodily formation that Providence intended it as a bird of the 

 lonf^est flight. Belknap speaks of it as a visitant of New Hampshire. 

 I have seen it in great numbers at Quebec. Hearne speaks of it in 

 lat. 60° North. To ascertain the times of the coming of the Martin 

 to New Orleans, and its migration to and from Mexico, Quito and Chili, 

 are desirable data in the history of this bird ; but it is probable that 

 the state of science in those countries renders this wish hopeless. 



" Relative to the domestic history, if it may be so called, of the 

 Blue-bird (of which you have given so correct and charming a descrip- 

 tion) and the Martin, permit me to give you an anecdote. In 1800 I 

 removed from Lancaster to a farm a few miles above Harrisburg. 

 Knowing the benefit derivable to a farmer from the neighborhood of 

 the Martin in preventing the depredations of the Bald Eagle, the Hawks 

 and even the Crows, my carpenter was employed to form a large box 

 with a number of apartments for the Martin. The box was put up in 

 the autumn. Near and around the house were a number of well grown 

 apple trees and much shrubbery, a very fit haunt for the feathered race. 

 About the middle of February the Blue-birds came ; in a short time 

 they were very familiar, and took possession of the box : these consisted 

 of two or three pairs. By the fifteenth of May the Blue-birds had 

 eggs, jf not young. Now the Martins arrived in numbers, visited the 

 box, and a severe conflict ensued. The Blue-birds, seemingly animated 

 by their right of possession, or for the protection of their young, were 

 victorious. The Martins regularly arrived about the middle of May 

 for the eight following years, examined the apartments of the box in 

 the absence of the Blue-birds, but were uniformly compelled to fly upon 

 the return of the latter. 



" The trouble caused you by reading this note you will be pleased to 

 charge to the Martin. A box replete with that beautiful traveller, is 

 not very distant from my bed head. Their notes seem discordant 

 because of their numbers ; yet to me they are pleasing. The indus- 

 trious farmer and mechanic would do well to have a box fixed near the 

 apartments of their drowsy laborers. Just as the dawn approaches, 

 the Martin begins its notes, which last half a minute or more ; and then 

 subside until the twilight is fairly broken. An animated and incessant 

 musical chattering now ensues, sufiScient to arouse the most sleepy per- 

 son. Perhaps clianticleer is not their superior in this beneficial qualifi- 



