Purple Martins and the Moon 



along either straight or curving lines, 

 according to the whim or objective of 

 the flyer. They even float backward 

 in a breeze, without a movement of 

 their wings. Certain other birds use 

 the same general system, but few 

 practice it with such consummate art. 

 A colony of martins at their evening 

 frolic is well worth watching. You 

 would think they would be ready to 

 quit the air as the shadows fall at the 

 end of long mid-June days, without 

 this apparently unnecessary exertion, 

 but they are tireless. Indeed, they 

 seem to enjoy their lofty twilight 

 revels as farm boys love a plunge in 

 the water at the end of a hot summer 

 day in the fields. Are we not all re- 

 lated ? Who can study it all, and still 

 deny it? 



Interesting as it is to watch the 

 three-ring circus performance put on 

 by these fine actors each evening, if 

 you will single out one bird and try to 

 follow his flight, you will now and 



[89] 



