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Clarke, Mr. Audubon informs us that the Chimney Swallow is met 

 with on the whole route across the continent to the Pacific Ocean 

 In those parts of the country where civilization is not sufficiently 

 extended to accommodate it in the comfortable manner mentioned 

 above, it has recourse to the trees and rocks. It rears two broods 

 in a season ; the eggs are pure white, and from four to six in 

 number. 



Like the Swallow, it drinks while on the wing, sipping the wa- 

 ter as it passes over it, and snaps up flies and other winged insects that 

 swarm on the surface. It seldom alights on the ground, though it 

 passes quite near it. At times it soars to a great elevation, 

 and pursues its irregular course with considerable velocity. It fre- 

 quents the towns and villages, and its twittering note is heard in the 

 large cities. It alights on the roofs of lofty buildings, and mounts 

 to the tops of towering steeples, sometimes building its nest there. 



FAMILY HERENDINiE. 



SW ALLOWS. 



GENUS HIRUNDO— LINN 



SWALLOW. 



[Bill very short, broad at the base, depressed, cleft nearly to the eyes — upper 

 mandible notched; head broad; wings very long, narrow, pointed; tail of 

 twelve feathers, generally emarginate ; tarsi short, slender ; feet small.] 



HIRUNDO PURPUREA— LINN. 



PURPLE MARTIN. 



Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 Hirundo purpurea, Bonap. Syn. 

 Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Nutt. Man. 

 Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Adult male with the plumage shining pur- 

 plish black, with steel blue reflections ; wings and tail feathers 

 brownish-black. Female with the upper parts duller ; the lower 

 parts light gray, and streaked with black; wings lengthy; tail 

 deeply emarginate. Length seven inches and three quarters, wing 

 six inches. 



