CHAPTER XXI 



NESTING HABITS OF THE GREY-BREASTED MARTIN 



Progne chalybea (Gmel.) 



English : 

 Grey-breasted Martin. 



Portuguese : 

 Andorinha grande. 



Dutch: 

 Gewone Witbuik Purper-Zwaluwen. 



French : 

 Martins a' ventre blanc. 



A small bird about 6 inches in length. Similar in size to Progne 

 subis. The male is a deep purple blue above, grey on the throat and 

 breast, shading to white beneath. The female is similar with the back 

 duller. The young are duller than the females, the back being a decided 

 sooty grey or black. The young males, in the second year, resemble 

 the adult females. 



Range: Southern Mexico southward through Central America and 

 South America to Peru, Bolivia and southern Brazil ; island of Trinidad. 



In all civilized districts from Rio northward this is the 

 first bird to greet the traveler. As the steamer warps up 

 to the pier there are always a few perched on the ridge of a 

 nearby roof or garrulously hovering over the deck. Pro- 

 ceeding inland by water or on foot one will see them always 

 present, where human habitations exist. 



The grey-breasted martins, like their relatives of the 

 north, thrive wherever there is a house and a clearing. They 

 are one of the many birds that have adapted themselves to 

 the advances of civilization and, like others, find the new con- 

 ditions congenial. They are extremely tame and unafraid 

 and because of this courage and pugnacity they are one of 

 the most useful birds that gather about the homestead. No 

 low flying hawk will for long withstand the vicious onslaughts 



