150 PURPLE MARTIN. 
‘The summer residence of this agreeable bird,’ says Wilson, 
‘is universally among the habitations of man; who, having no 
interest in his destruction, and deriving considerable advan- 
tage, as well as amusement, from his company, is generally 
his friend and protector. Wherever he comes, he finds some 
hospitable retreat fitted up for his accommodation, and that 
of his young, either in the projecting wooden cornice on the 
top of the roof, or sign-post, in the box appropriated to the 
Blue-bird, or, if all these be wanting, in the dove-house 
among the Pigeons. In the latter case, he sometimes takes 
possession of one quarter or tier of the premises, in which 
not a Pigeon dare for a moment set its foot.’ Some persons, 
he further observes, have regular places fitted up beforehand 
for the reception of their visitors, to which it is noted that 
the same individuals return from year to year. Even the 
solitary Indians of the Chickasaw and Chactaw tribes have a 
fondness for this bird, and shew it by lopping the bows off 
a sapling tree by their wigwam door, on which they hang 
an empty gourd or calabash prepared thus for it to build 
in. The Negroes also, on the banks of the Mississipi, place 
the like on the tops of long canes, which they put in the 
ground for the same purpose. 
Nidification commences in April or May, according as the 
place halted at is farther or otherwise on the ‘great north 
road.’ The nest is made of leaves, hay, straw, and feathers 
in considerable quantity. 
The eggs are about four in number, small for the size of 
the bird, and pure white without any spots. The first brood 
appears in May, the second late in July. Both the male 
and female assist in the work of incubation; the former 
relieving and attending on the latter with much careful 
tenderness. 
Male; length, eight inches; bill, strong; iris, full and. dark; 
head, crown, neck, nape, chin, throat, breast, and back, deep 
purple blue, with reflections of violet-colour. The wings 
expand to the width of one foot four inches; primaries, 
secondaries, and tertiaries, brownish black. The tail consists 
of twelve brownish black feathers; it is considerably forked, 
and edged with purple blue; legs, short, strong, and dark 
dull purple. 
Female; bill, strong; head, crown, neck on the back, and 
nape, blackish brown, with blue and violet reflections thinly 
seattered; chin, throat, and breast, greyish brown, the latter 
