PURPLE MARTIN. 409 



my carpenter was employed to form a large box with a number 

 of apartments for the Martin. The box was put up in the au- 

 tumn. Near and around the house were a number of well grown 

 apple trees and much shrubbery, a very fit haunt for the feath- 

 ered race. About the middle of February the Blue-birds came; 

 in a short time they were very familiar, and took possession of 

 the box: these consisted of two or three pairs. By the fifteenth 

 of May the Blue-birds had eggs, if not young. Now the Mar- 

 tins arrived in numbers, visited the box, and a severe conflict 

 ensued. The Blue-birds seemingly animated by their right of 

 possession, or for the protection of their young, were victorious. 

 The Martins regularly arrived about the middle of May for the 

 eight following years, examined the apartments of the box in 

 the absence of the Blue-birds, but were uniformly compelled to 

 fly upon the return of the latter. 



"The trouble caused you by reading this note you will be 

 pleased to charge to the Martin. A box replete with that beau- 

 tiful traveller, is not very distant from my bed head. Their 

 notes seem discordant because of their numbers; yet to me they 

 are pleasing. The industrious farmer and mechanic would do 

 well to have a box fixed near the apartments of their drowsy 

 labourers. Just as the dawn approaches, the Martin begins its 

 notes, which last half a minute or more; and then subside until 

 the twilight is fairly broken. An animated and incessant musi- 

 cal chattering now ensues, sufficient to arouse the most sleepy 

 person. Perhaps chanticleer is not their superior in this benefi- 

 cial qualification; and he is far beneath the Martin in his pow- 

 ers of annoying birds of prey." 



I shall add a few particulars to this faithful and interesting 

 sketch by my deceased friend. About the middle or twentieth 

 of April the Martins first begin to prepare their nest. The last 

 of these which I examined was formed of dry leaves of the 

 weeping willow, slender straws, hay and feathers, in considerable 

 quantity. The eggs were four, very small for the size of the 

 bird, and pure white without any spots. The first brood appears 

 in May, the second late in July. During the period in which 



VOL. ii. 3 F 



