80 



127. Progne subis (Linn.). 

 PURPLE MAETIN. 



Male: Royal purple or shining blue-black. 



Female : Head, purple; elsewhere dull brownish with some purple tinge. 

 Length, 8 inches. 



"Formerly common ; now rare, being restricted to a few col- 

 onies in various parts of the town principally at North Amherst. 

 Arrives about May 1 and departs in September. Raises 1-2 

 broods. Eggs 4-6, white. Nest of hay, feathers, etc., in 

 bird-houses. Eggs laid in May and June. Feeds on insects. 

 Beneficial. Note, a sort of chattering." 



The above is copied from the first edition of this work. It 

 described the situation down to about 1890, but whether the 

 martins still persist at North Amherst, I cannot say. 



128. Petrochelidon lunifrons (Say.). 

 EAVE SWALLOW. CLIFF SWALLOW. 



Back, crown and spot on throat, steel-blue ; band across neck and beneath, 

 rusty-gray; forehead rufous. Length, 5-5J inches. 



Common summer resident. Earliest arrival, May 2 ; departs 

 in September. Raises 1 or 2 broods. Eggs 3-5, white, thickly 

 spotted with brown and black. Nest of hay, feathers and 

 mud, flask shaped, built on the outside of barns and sheds, 

 under the eaves. Eggs laid from May to July. Feeds on 

 insects. Beneficial. Note, a constant twitter. 



129. Chelidon erythrogaster (Bodd.). 



BARN SWALLOW. 



Above, lustrous steel-blue; forehead and underparts, rufous. Length 

 6-7 inches. 



Abundant summer resident. Earliest arrival, April 15 ; 

 departs in September. Raises 2-3 broods. Eggs 3-5, white, 



