XL' 



FLYGOOD AND FLEETWING 



IN the story of Jerry, the kingbird, I told you of two 

 purple martins that caused the death of Jerry. I think 

 I told you that they left us, but I did not tell you what 

 became of them. But before I give you their story let 

 me tell you something about their family. 



Martins are the largest of our swallows. Swallows 

 are moderately small birds with long, powerful wings, 

 and are among our most rapid flyers. When on the 

 wing they resemble chimney swifts, tho they have differ- 

 ently formed feet and legs, and often alight on dead 

 trees or other convenient resting places. They have large 

 mouths as, indeed they must have, for they catch their 

 living in the air. 



Among the most common varieties are the cliff swal- 

 lows that plaster their mud nests against the side of cliffs 

 in the mountain country, or under the eaves of the barns; 

 the bank swallows that burrow in the mud banks of our 

 midwestern streams ; the barn swallows which plaster their 

 mud nests inside our barns, and the purple martin, which 

 has become almost dependent on man for its nesting place. 

 Flygood and his wife Fleetwing, who attempted to live in 

 my martin box, were purple martins. 



After being convinced that they could not live with me 



265 



