150 PURPLE MAPLTIlS r . 



'The summer residence of this agreeable bird,' says Wilson, 

 'is universally among the habitations of man; who, having no 

 interest in his destruction, and deriving considerable advan- 

 tage, as well as amusement, from his company, is generally 

 his friend and protector. 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 the latter 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 persons, 

 he further observes, have regular places fitted up beforehand 

 for the reception of their visitors, to which it is noted that 

 the same individuals return from year to year. Even the 

 solitary Indians of the Chiekasaw and Chactaw tribes have a 

 fondness for this bird, and shew it by lopping the bows off 

 a sapling tree by their wigwam door, on which they hang 

 an empty gourd or calabash prepared thus for it to build 

 in. The Negroes also, on the banks of the Mississipi, place 

 the like on the tops of long canes, which they put in the 

 ground for the same purpose. 



Nidification commences in April or May, according as the 

 place halted at is farther or otherwise on the 'great north 

 road.' The nest is made of leaves, hay, straw, and feathers 

 in considerable quantity. 



The eggs are about four in number, small for the size of 

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

 appears in Ma} r , the second late in July. Both the male 

 and female assist in the work of incubation; the former 

 relieving and attending on the latter with much careful 

 tenderness. 



Male; length, eight inches; bill, strong; iris, full and dark; 

 head, crown, neck, nape, chin, tliroat, breast, and back, deep 

 purple blue, with reflections of violet-colour. The wings 

 expand to the width of one foot four inches; primaries, 

 secondaries, and tertiaries, brownish black. The tail consists 

 of twelve brownish black feathers; it is considerably forked, 

 and edged with purple blue; legs, short, strong, and dark 

 dull purple. 



Female; bill, strong; head, crown, neck on the back, and 

 nape, blackish brown, with blue and violet reflections thinly 

 scattered; chin, throat, and breast, greyish brown, the latter 



