PURPLE MARTIN. 407 



so, according to the doctrine of torpidity, has consequently 

 a pretty long annual nap in those frozen regions, of eight or 

 nine months, under the ice ! We, however, choose to consider 

 him as advancing northerly with the gradual approach of spring, 

 and retiring with his young family, on the first decline of sum- 

 mer, to a more congenial climate. 



The summer residence of this agreeable bird is universally 

 among the habitations of man; who, having no interest in his 

 destruction, arid deriving considerable advantage as well as 

 amusement from his company, is generally his friend and pro- 

 tector. Wherever he comes, he finds some hospitable retreat 

 fitted up for his accommodation and that of his young, either 

 in the projecting wooden cornice on the top of the roof, or 

 sign post in the box appropriated to the Blue-bird; or, if all 

 these be wanting, in the dove-house among the pigeons. In 

 this last case, he sometimes takes possession of one quarter or 

 tier of the premises, in which not a pigeon dare for a moment 

 set its foot. Some people have large conveniences formed for 

 the Martins, with many apartments, which are usually fully 

 tenanted, and occupied regularly every spring; and in such pla- 

 ces, particular individuals have been noted to return to the same 

 box for several successive years. Even the solitary Indian 

 seems to have a particular respect for this bird. The Chactaws 

 and Chickasaws cut off all the top branches from a sapling near 

 their cabins, leaving the prongs a foot or two in length, on each 

 of which they hang a gourd, or calabash, properly hollowed out 

 for their convenience. On the' banks of the Mississippi the ne- 

 groes stick up long canes, with the same species of apartment 

 fixed to their tops, in which the Martins regularly breed. 

 Wherever I have travelled in this country I have seen with 

 pleasure the hospitality of the inhabitants to this favourite bird. 



As superseding the necessity of many of my own observations 

 on this species, I beg leave to introduce in this place an extract 

 of a letter from the late learned and venerable John Joseph 

 Henry, esq. judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, a 

 man of most amiable manners, which was written to me but a 



