THE AMERICAN BARX SWALLOW. BIRDS. THE PURPLE MARTIN. 



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identical with our chimney swallows, although the dif- 

 ferences even in the plumage, are quite sufficient to 

 distinguish the two birds at first sight. The American 

 bird is about seven inches in length, and thirteen in 

 extent of wing ; the whole of the upper parts are steel 

 blue, as is also the breast; the forehead and the rest of 

 the lower surface are chestnut-coloured, paler on the 

 abdomen. The wings and tail are brownish black, 

 with a slight greenish gloss ; the tail is much forked, 

 the outer feathers in the male being an inch and a 

 half longer than any of the rest, and each feather of 

 the tail, except the two middle ones, is marked with 

 an oblong white spot. 



This swallow makes its appearance in the United 

 States in the month of March, and by the beginning 

 of April is generally dispersed all over the country to 

 the east of the Alleghanies, often ascending to a con- 

 siderable elevation on high mountains. Like the 

 European swallows, these birds have a predilection for 

 the habitations of man, and, according to Wilson, they 

 take up their abode in every bam to which they can 

 have access. The feeling of the farmers is so strongly 

 in their favour, that they are seldom molested, and 

 Wilson mentions two superstitions which are enter- 

 tained regarding them, and which must strongly con- 

 duce to their preservation. A German farmer assured 

 him, " that if a man permitted the swallows to be 

 shot, his cows would give bloody milk, and also that 

 no barn where swallows frequented would ever be 

 struck with lightning ; and," says Wilson, " I nodded 

 assent. When the tenets of superstition lean to the 

 side of humanity, one can readily respect them." 



The nest is not built until the beginning of May. 

 It is of the form of an inverted cone, with one side 

 cut off where it is applied against the rafter or other 

 point of support; like the nests of the European 

 swallows, it is composed of mud mixed with fine hay 

 to bind it together. The conical hollow of the nest 

 is stuffed with fine hay, upon the top of which a layer 

 of downy feathers is placed, and upon this scientifically 

 constructed bed the eggs are laid. These are usually 

 five in number, of a white colour, speckled all over 

 with reddish-brown. The birds generally have two 

 broods in the season, and although twenty or thirty 

 nests are often established in the same barn, and 

 the nests are often placed close together, no 

 squabbling takes place amongst the inmates. In the 

 air this species has ah 1 the sprightly vivacity and 

 agility of its congeners, and its song is a pleasing 

 warble. 



About the middle of September the barn swallows 

 quit the United States, on their way to their winter 

 quarters in the warm regions of the south. They take 

 up their abode during the winter in the West Indian 

 islands and in the tropical parts of the continent of 

 South America ; specimens in the British Museum 

 are recorded from Nevis and Para. 



THE SEVERN SWALLOW (Hirundo bicolor), another 

 American species, the WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW of 

 Wilson, is less abundant than the preceding in the 

 United States, and also considerably smaller. It 

 measures less than six inches in length ; the whole of 

 the upper parts are light, glossy, greenish blue, with the 

 VOL. I. 



wings and tail uniform brownish black ; and the lower 

 surface of the body is pure white. This species arrives 

 in the United States a few days later than the pre- 

 ceding one, and takes its departure southwards a 

 little earlier. It breeds in hollow trees, or in the 

 boxes often put up for the accommodation of the 

 Purple Martin ; and, unlike most of the swallows, it 

 uses no mud in the composition of its nest, which is 

 formed of fine dry grass, with a thick lining of soft 

 downy feathers. The eggs are four or five in number, 

 and pure white. These birds are said to quarrel more 

 in their flight than the Barn Swallow, and in the 

 spring they are seen fighting in the air for a quarter of 

 an hour together, keeping up a low chattering noise all 

 the time. They frequent the same localities as the 

 barn swallows, and like them feed on insects; but 

 Wilson states that " for some time before their 

 departure, they subsist principally on the myrtle 

 berries (Myrica ceriferd), and become extremely fat." 



THE PUBPLE MARTIN (Progne purpurea). Certain 

 species of this family, all peculiar to America, are dis- 

 tinguished from the other swallows by a far more 

 strongly developed bill, this being more than half as 

 long as the head, and considerably compressed at the 

 sides. The tail is slightly forked, and the tarsi, as 

 in the preceding swallows, are scutellated, or covered 

 with horny shields. The species presenting these 

 characters form the genus Progne. 



The Purple Martin is an abundant and well-known 

 bird in the United States and in Canada, through 

 which it continues its migrations as far as the Hudson's 

 Bay territories ; .it reaches the southern states of the 

 American Union as early as the end of February 01 

 the beginning of March, but occupies considerable 

 time in its dispersion over the more northern parts of 

 the continent. It does not reach its northern limit 

 until the month of May. Wherever it appears, the 

 Purple Martin is a great favourite with the inhabitants 

 of the United States, many of whom even put up 

 boxes, often containing a dozen or more compartments, 

 to induce these birds to build about their houses ; which, 

 indeed, they are by no means loath to do ; for, like 

 almost all the swallows, they always seek the habitations 

 of man. In return for this general favour, the swallows 

 destroy vast quantities of insects, and according to 

 some accounts, they also serve the purpose of an 

 alarum, for, as daybreaks, they commence an incessant 

 musical chattering, which is said to be quite sufficient 

 to awaken the most sleepy person. But a still more 

 valuable quality possessed by the Purple Martin, is its 

 inveterate hostility to all birds of prey, so that the 

 vicinity of a colony of this species, is a most excellent 

 protection to the poultry yard. " The Purple Martin," 

 says Wilson, "like his half-cousin the King-bird 

 (Tyrannus intrepidus), is the terror of crows, hawks, 

 and eagles. These he attacks, whenever they make 

 their appearance, and with such vigour and rapidity, 

 that they instantly have recourse to flight. So well 

 known is this to the lesser birds and to the domestic 

 poultry, that, as soon as they hear the Martin's voice 

 engaged in fight, all is alarm and consternation. To 

 observe with what spirit and audacity this bird dives 

 and sweeps upon and around the hawk or the eagle is 



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