PURPLE MARTIN. 411 



The flight of the Purple Martin unites in it all the swiftness, 

 case, rapidity of turning and gracefulness of motion of its tribe. 

 Like the Swift of Europe, he sails much with little action of 

 the wings. He passes through the most crowded parts of our 

 streets, eluding the passengers with the quickness of thought; or 

 plays among the clouds, gliding about at a vast height, like an 

 aerial being. His usual note peuo peuo peuo, is loud and musi- 

 cal; but is frequently succeeded by others more low and guttu- 

 ral. Soon after the twentieth of August he leaves Pennsylvania 

 for the south. 



This bird has been described three or four different times by 

 European writers, as so many different species. The Canadian 

 Swallow of Turton, and the great American Martin of Edwards, 

 being evidently the female of the present species. The Violet 

 Swallow of the former author, said to inhabit Louisiana, differs 

 in no respect from the present. Deceived by the appearance of 

 the flight of this bird, and its similarity to that of the Swift of 

 Europe, strangers from that country have also asserted that the 

 Swift is common to North America and the United States. No 

 such bird, however, inhabits any part of this continent that I 

 have as yet visited. 



The Purple Martin is eight inches in length, and sixteen in- 

 ches in extent; except the lores, which are black, and the wings 

 and tail, which are of a brownish black, he is of a rich and 

 deep purplish blue, with strong violet reflections; the bill is 

 strong, the gap very large; the legs also short, stout, and of a 

 dark dirty purple; the tail consists of twelve feathers, is con- 

 siderably forked and edged with purple blue, the eye full and 

 dark. 



The female (fig. 2,) measures nearly as large as the male; the 

 upper parts are blackish brown, with blue and violet reflections 

 thinly scattered; chin and breast grayish brown; sides under the 

 wings darker; belly and vent whitish, not pure, with stains of 

 dusky and yellow ochre; wings and tail blackish brown. 



