BIRDS OF MAINE. 105 



Family HIRUNDINID^.. Swallows. 

 Genus PROGNE Boie. 



254. (611). Progne subis (Xnr/i.). Purple Martin . 



A common summer resident in the vicinity of dwellings where 

 martin houses have been erected for their accommodation. They 

 seemingly return to the same house every year, and usuall}^ have a 

 hard fight to regain possession of it, as during their absence the 

 English Sparrows have usually taken possession. However, in 

 such fights the Martins usually prove victorious, and the intruding 

 Passer domesticus is forced to seek a new home. 



County Eecords. — Androscoggin, "abundant summer resident" (John- 

 son) ; Aroostook, "seen at Fort F;urfield and Houlton" (Batchelder, Bull. 

 Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. 7, p. 110) ; Cumberland, "connnon summer resi- 

 dent" (Mead) ; Franklin, "common summer resident" (Swain) ; Hancock, 

 "common throughout the summer" (Knight) ; Kennebec, "very rare sum- 

 mer resident" (Larrabee) ; Knox, "summer" (Racklifl) ; Oxford, "com- 

 mon breeder" (Nash) ; Penobscot, "common in the cities, somewhat rarer 

 in the country, but occur wherever houses have been provided for their 

 benefit" (Knight) ; Piscataquis, "common, breeds" (Homer) ; Sagadahoc 

 (Spratt) ; Somerset, "common summer resident" (Morrell) ; AValdo 

 (Spratt) ; Washington, "common summer resident" (Boardmau) ; Yorli, 

 "common summer resident" (Adams). 



Genus PETROCHELIDON Cabanis. 



255. (612). Petrochelidon lunifrons (>S'a?/). Cliff Swallow. 



A very common summer resident of general distribution. These 

 birds are commonly called Eave Swallows from their habit of build- 

 ing their large flask-shaped nests of mud beneath the eaves of 

 buildings. They are also called Republicans, presumably because 

 they nest in colonies. 



County Records. — Androscoggin, "common summer resident" (.John- 

 sou) ; Aroostool<, "abundant at Fort Fairfield" (Batchelder, Bull. Nutt. 

 Orn. Club, Vol. 7, p. 110); Cumberland, "common summer resident" 

 (Mead) ; Franklin "common summer resident" (Swain) ; Hancock, "com- 

 mon on the inhabited islands along the coast and also in the interior, 

 breeds, (Knight) ; Kennebec, "very common summer resident" (Gar- 

 diner Branch) ; Knox, "summer" (Rackliff) : Oxford, "common, breeds" 

 (Nash) ; Penobscot, "abundant summer resident" (Ivuight) ; Piscataquis, 

 "common, breeds" (Homer) ; Sagadalioc, "common summer resident" 

 (Spinney) ; Somerset, "common summer resident" (Morrell) ; Waldo 

 (Spratt) ; Washington, "very abundant summer resident" (Boardmau) ; 

 York, "common summer resident" (Adams). 



