CHAPTER XXXV. 



August 20 August 26. 



THE PURPLE MARTIN. 



Order Passeres Suborder Oscines 



Family Hirundinidse Genus Progne 



Species Progne subis. 



Length 7.25 to 8.50; wing, 5.65 to 6.20; tail, 3.00 to 3.40. 

 Migration North, April ; south, August. 



" 'Twit twit, twit twit' the martins come again, 

 Underneath my eaves, about my window-pane; 

 They bring me all the spring in their low strain, 



'Twit twit, twit twit!' 



Blythe birds of mystery, God-taught, give o'er 

 Your tireless flight, and teach me half your lore. 

 Now black against the sapphire sky they soar, 

 Now flash with white athwart the April rain, 

 Returning ever with the low refrain, 



'Twit twit, twit twit!'" 



The family Hirundinidse, composed of the swallows, has in 

 it about eighty species. Of these we have six species in the 

 Middle West, namely, the purple martin, cliff swallow, barn 

 swallow, tree swallow, bank swallow, and the rough-winged 

 swallow. The swallows are distinguished by their small bills, 

 long, powerful wings and small weak feet. They live almost 

 exclusively on insects which they capture while in flight. Their 

 flight is strong, skimming, darting and exceedingly graceful. 

 When not in flight they choose conspicuous perches like tele- 



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