THE BLACK MARTIN. 361 



secure the abundance of insect-food necessary to their 

 voracity. For just as nervous people eat much without grow- 

 ing fat, the nourishment of their food being consumed by 

 their nervous energy, so these active birds are almost un- 

 limited eaters. 



Two broods may be raised in a season, and in the latter 

 part of August, the ridge of the barn, or the telegraph 

 wire, attests to the numerous progenies which migrate 

 southward for the winter, to return again to the middle 

 districts, from their distant sojourn, late in April or early 

 in May. 



About five inches long, the tail not being forked, this 

 species has the upper parts a glossy steel-blue, there being 

 a white triangular or crescent-shaped spot on the forehead 

 (hence the specific nametuni/rons); throat and sides of the 

 head, chestuut; rump, reddish; breast, sides, and collar 

 about the neck, rust-color, becoming white or whitish on the 

 belly. As with the rest of the Swallows, the sexes are 

 nearly alike, and the young are similar. The white or 

 whitish mark on the forehead is always distinctive. 



Wintering in Central 'America, this species breeds nearly 

 throughout North America. 



THE BLACK MARTIN. 



On this same beautiful morning the Black Martins 

 (Progne purpured] are abroad. The fine curves in flight 

 and the easy but rapid sailing, as well as the form, mark 

 this bird as a Swallow, huge though he be for one of his 

 kind. His notes, however, are peculiar to himself. Chee-it, 

 chee-u, chee-u, chee-u, uttered in rapid succession, may 

 represent his common vocal performance. Often he adds a 

 peculiar guttural croak or chuckle, especially when alighted 

 about the breeding tenement, the above-described being 



