forked tail ; but our bird is found during the breeding-season 

 in North-western India, Turkestan, Persia, Palestine, Asia Minor, 

 and throughout Europe, except in the Basque Provinces, where, for 

 some mysterious reason, it is almost unknown. It also breeds 

 abundantly in North Africa ; visits the Canaries and Madeira ; and 

 probably winters in Central Africa, inasmuch as examples have 

 been obtained in Abyssinia on the east side, and off the coast of 

 Guinea on the west. 



The nest, constructed of mud, is not open at the top like that of 

 the Swallow, but is shaped like the quarter of a cup, and is fixed 

 against a wall, bridge or rock, beneath eaves or other projections ; 

 the hole for entrance being in the top or corner of the side. On 

 rocky coasts, and m mountain districts, especially those where lime 

 stone prevails, the nests are often placed in large numbers against the 

 cliffs. Upon a lining of fine straws and feathers, the eggs, 4-5, of a 

 pure white, are deposited : average measurements '79 by "52 in. In- 

 cubation lasts a fortnight, and two or even three broods are pro- 

 duced in the season ; the same spot being occupied year after year. 

 The food of the Martin consists entirely of insects, and it is a pity 

 that this beneficial bird should be dispossessed and driven from its 

 home, as it often is, by the almost useless House-Sparrow. This 

 has lately happened to several colonies in the West-end of London. 

 The note is a low twitter, something like the word spritz. 



The adult has the upper parts of the head, nape and back glossy 

 bluish-black ; rump white, as are the upper tail-coverts, except those 

 next the tail, which are bluish-black ; wings and the forked tail 

 dingy black ; under parts white, as also the feathers which cover the 

 legs and toes ; bill black. Length 5*25 ; wing 4*2 in. The sexes are 

 alike in plumage. The young bird is sooty-brown above, with hardly 

 any gloss ; the rump and under parts are dull white ; the tail is 

 shorter and less forked ; and some dark feathers on each side of the 

 neck form an incipient collar. 



An American Purple Martin, Progne purpurea, said to have been 

 shot near Kingstown in 1839 or 1840, is in the Museum of Science 

 and Art, Dublin. An American Tree-Swallow, Tachycincta Incolor, 

 said to have been killed at Derby in 1850, is now in the Museum at 

 Norwich. There are no other instances of the occurrence of these 

 species in Europe ; and, even assuming the correctness of the state- 

 ments, the birds had probably received " assisted passages." 



