THE WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW. 



145 



Sometimes the Purple Martins become rather presuming in their i'amiharity, and actually 

 turn the pigeons out of their own nest-boxes when they do not find sufhcient accommodation 

 for themselves. The negro, too, takes pleasure in domesticating this most trustful of birds, 

 and provides for its accommodation by fastening hollow calabashes to the tops of long 

 bamboo canes, which are stuck in the groimd for tlie purpose. 



Like the swallow of England, the Purple Martin exhibits a great predilection for the 

 spot where it has once built its nest, and will return year after year to the beloved 

 locality. 



As is the case with many familiar birds, such as the robin, the sparrow, and the 

 swallow, the Purple Martin is a most fearless and A\ithal r[uarrelsome bird, greatly 

 delighting in annoying any other bird that may 

 happen to be larger than itself, and trusting 

 to its great command of wing for impunity. 

 Hawks of all kinds, crows, jays, and similar 

 birds live in constant terror of the Purple 

 Martin, which no sooner sees the hateful form 

 of a hawk or crow in the distance than it flies 

 at him savagely, and makes such rapid and 

 vicious pounces, that the wretched victim is 

 fain to escape as he best can from the attacks 

 of his small but determined foe. Even the 

 eagle enjoys no immunity from the persecrition 

 of the Purple Martin, which dashes at the 

 regal bird with as much assurance as if it were 

 only chasing a pigeon. It is rather remarkable 

 that although the Purple Martin will generally 

 fly at the king-bird, it will make common 

 cause with that bird against the eagle, and 

 ixnite in a temporary alliance until the com- 

 mon enemy is driven off. 



Tlie Purple Martin feeds mostly upon the 

 larger insects, such as wasps, bees, and beetles, 

 caring little for the gnats, flies, and other small 

 .insects which form the food of the generality 

 of swallows. The flight of tliis species is 



.iderfully rapid and active, the little bird 



^'ling to and fro with lightning speed, and 



■;eling with such remarkable suddenness 

 ..:;ic it really has nothing to fear from the 

 larger but less active claws of the eagle or 

 ':'^-on. 



When this bird builds in a crevice or other 

 sj.'' t which has not been prepared by the hand 

 of man, the nest is found to consist of a rather 

 lajge mass of dried grass, leaves, moss, feathers, 

 and other similar substances, and contains 

 from four to six white eggs. When several 

 ' -'ds are building in proximity to each other, 



;y make an extraordinary noise at the break 

 day, which, although very useful in awaking the farmers and their men in time for 



Ar daily work, is by no means agreeable to those whose tastes do not incline them to 

 ef.rly rising. There are generally two broods in each year, and both parents take their 

 •' 'r turn in sitting upon the eggs. 



As might be gathered from the popular name of this bird, the colour of this species is 



ich, deep purple, of a very glossy kind. This purple hue is peculiar to the male, and 



.ends over the greater part of the body, with the exception of the wings and tail, which 



WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW.— Wiruiido filijira. 



