274 PROGNE PURPUREA — THE PURPLE MARTIN. 



vicinity until the present time, (September 8, 1859,) and 

 the season has been far from favorable, the nights being 

 unusually cold. They generally leave this locality in small 

 flocks, and without a great deal of preparation. 



Their food, during the period of their stay with us, con- 

 sists of beetles, moths, &c. They also capture many dragon 

 flies, but these they seldom, if ever, give to the young. 

 Ephemera, during the short time they appear, are also 

 caught and brought in great numbers to the young. They 

 are strictly insectivorous in their tastes, and should be 

 encouraged- We do not know whether they eat bees. 

 Audubon saj^s they seldom do. 



A description of the habits of this species is almost super- 

 fluous. Every one welcomes them as harbingers of spring, 

 and the martiji boxes, set up in the neighborhood of many 

 dwellings, give evidence of the kindly feelings entertained 

 for them by man. They will fight with other birds for the 

 possession of a box, and generally come ofi" victorious. The 

 blue bird, especially, is often the victim of the Martin, 

 being ousted from its favorite box by this pugnacious intru- 

 der. Sometimes, however, they resist such illegal eject- 

 ment efi'ectually. 



The Martin wages battle against all invaders of the vicin- 

 ity of its nest. The eagle or the hawk are impotent against 

 the assaults of this swift winged foe, and are soon driven 

 from the field. It even makes war on the king bird success- 

 fully, but will join with the latter against all strangers that 

 dare approach the premises. The cat herself, dire enemy 

 of the feathered tribe, is driven from the house top by the 

 Martin, who charges upon her in defence of his mate and 

 young. 



Twelve or fifteen years ago the Martins were more numer- 

 ous than now in the vicinity of Cleveland. For some reason 

 or other fewer visit us, and many boxes are no longer inhab- 

 ited by them. This desertion cannot be owing to a decrease 

 in the amount of food, nor in any persecution they have 



