PROGNE TAPERA. 27 



Description. Entire upper parts dull brown ; tail-feathers blackish brown ; 

 throat ashy white ; fore neck and chest ashy brown in the centre and dark 

 brown on the sides, as are also the flanks ; abdomen white ; bill and feet horn- 

 colour : total length 7 inches, wing 5-5, tail 2-6. Female similar. 



Hab. Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina. 



The Tree-Martin is more slender and has a greater extent of wing 

 than the Purple Martins; and, instead of the beautiful dark purple 

 (their prevailing colour), its entire upper plumage is dusky brown, the 

 under surface white. But if these differences of structure and hue 

 merely serve to show that it is not a very near relative of the other 

 species, those exhibited in its habits remove it very far indeed from 

 them. 



The Tree-Martin is a very garrulous bird, and no sooner arrives early 

 in September, than we are apprised of the circumstance by the notes 

 which tbe male and female incessantly sing in concert, fluttering and 

 waving their wings the while, and seeming quite beside themselves with 

 joy at their safe arrival; for invariably they arrive already mated. 

 Their language is more varied, the intonation bolder and freer than that 

 of our other Swallows. The length of the notes can be varied at 

 pleasure ; some are almost harsh, others silvery or liquid, as of trickling 

 drops of water ; they all have a glad sound ; and many have that 

 peculiar character of some bird-notes of shaping themselves into 

 words. 



This Martin is never seen to alight on the ground or on the 

 roofs of houses, but solely on trees ; and when engaged in collecting 

 materials for its nest, it sweeps down and snatches up a feather or 

 straw without touching the surface. It breeds only in the clay-ovens 

 of the Oven-bird (Furnarius rufus). I, at least, have never seen them 

 breed in any other situation after observing them for a great many 

 summers. An extraordinary habit ! for, many as are the species that 

 possess the parasitical tendency of breeding in other birds' nests, 

 none of them confine themselves to the nest of a single species 

 excepting the bird I am describing. It must, however, be understood 

 that my knowledge of this bird has been acquired in Buenos Ayres, 

 where I have observed it ; and as this Martin possesses a wider range 

 in South America than the Oven-birds, it is more than probable that in 

 other districts it builds in different situations. 



On arriving in spring each pair takes up its position on some tree, 

 and usually on a particular branch ; a dead branch extending beyond 

 the foliage is a favourite perch. Here they spend much of their time, 

 never appearing to remain long absent from it, and often, when singing 



