150 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
their holes, clustering together for warmth, and have been fre- 
quently found at such times in almost a lifeless state with the 
cold, which circumstance has contributed to the belief that 
they lie torpid all winter in these recesses.” 
(d). The Bank Swallows are usually more silent than the 
other species, though one might not gather this impression 
from a flock ; and their notes are less musical. 
V. PROGNE 
(A) PurPuREA.*? Purple Martin. “Black Martin.” Martin. 
‘*Cape Cod Swallow.” 
(The Martins, though formerly abundant, are now very gen- 
erally rare in New England, being confined to a few tracts of 
country and to localities.) 
(a). 7-8 inches long. ‘Lustrous blue-black; no purple 
anywhere. The ? and young are much duller above, and more 
or less white below, streaked with gray.” (Coues.) 
(6). The nest and eggs are essentially like those of the 
White-bellied Swallow (III) in every respect, except that the 
latter are larger than the eggs of that bird, averaging :95x-70 
of an inch. 
(c). The Purple Martins reach Eastern Massachusetts on 
the first of May, or earlier, and leave it about the first of Sep- 
tember. They are very locally distributed, and in many places 
are at present never seen. They are ‘‘ very abundant upon 
Cape Cod,” and are perhaps as common in Boston and other 
cities as in the country. They are allied in many ways to the 
White-bellied Swallows—particularly so in their habits. The 
latter, however, become more common every. year; but the 
former have deserted many places, where they were once well 
known, though they are probably multiplying in their present 
homes. 
‘““The Martin” says Wilson “differs from all the rest of our 
Swallows in the particular prey which he selects. Wasps, 
40 Various scientific names have been bestowed upon this bird, but the present 
seems to me the most satisfactory. 
