PROGNE TAPERA. 29 



rains have supplied them with wet clay, and the sense of defeat is worn 

 off, they cheerfully begin their building-operations afresh. 



This is not, however, the invariable result of the conflict. To the 

 superior swiftness of the Martin the Oven-bird opposes greater strength, 

 and, it might be added, a greater degree of zeal and fury than can 

 animate its adversary. The contest is thus nearly an equal one ; and 

 the Oven-bird, particularly when its young are already hatched, is often 

 able to maintain its own. But the Martins never suffer defeat; for, 

 when unable to take the citadel by storm, they fall back on their 

 dribbling system of warfare, which they keep up till the young birds 

 leave the nest, when they take possession before it has grown cold. 



The Martin makes its own nest chiefly of large feathers, and lays 

 four eggs, long, pointed, and pure white. 



It will be remarked that in all its habits above mentioned this bird 

 differs widely from tbe two preceding species. It also differs greatly 

 from them in its manner of flight . The Purple Martins move with 

 surprising grace and celerity, the wings extended to their utmost ; they 

 also love to sail in circles high up in the air, or about the summits 

 of tall trees, and particularly during a high wind. At such times 

 several individuals are usually seen together, and all seem striving to 

 outvie each other in the beauty of their evolutions. 



The Tree-Martin is never seen to soar about in circles ; and though 

 when hawking after flies and moths it sweeps the surface of the grass 

 with amazing swiftness, at other times it has a flight strangely slow and 

 of a fashion peculiar to itself: the long wings are depressed as much 

 as those of a Wild Duck when dropping on to the water, and are con- 

 stantly agitated with tremulous flutterings, short and rapid as those 

 of a butterfly. 



Neither is this bird gregarious like all its congeners, though occa- 

 sionally an individual associates for a while with Swallows of another 

 species ; but this only when they are resting on fences or trees, for as 

 soon as they take flight it leaves them. Once or twice, when for some 

 mysterious cause the autumnal migration has been delayed long past its 

 usual time, I have seen them unite in small flocks; but this is very 

 rare. As a rule they have no meetings preparatory to migration, but 

 skim about the fields and open plains in un-Swallow-like solitude, 

 and suddenly disappear without having warned us of their intended 

 departure. 



