THE WIEE-TAILED SWALLOW. 



115 



Sometimes the Purple Martins become rather presuming in their familiarity, and actually 



turn the pigeons out of their own nest-boxes when they do not rind sufficient accommodation 



for themselves. The negro, too, takes pleasure in domesticating this most trustful of birds, 



and provides for its accommodation by fastening hollow calabashes to the tops of long 



bamboo canes, which are stuck in the ground for the purpose. 



Like the swallow of England, the Purple Martin exhibits a great predilection for the 



spot where it has once built its nest, and will return year after year to the beloved 



locality. 



As is the case with many familiar birds, such as the robin, the sparrow, and the 



swallow, the Purple Martin is a most fearless and withal quarrelsome bird, greatly 



delighting in annoying any other bird that may 



happen to be larger than itself, and trusting 



to its great command of wing for impunity. 



Hawks of all kinds, crows, jays, and similar 



birds live in constant terror of the Purple 



Martin, which no sooner sees the hateful form 



of aihawk or crow in the distance than it flies 



at him savagely, and makes such rapid and 

 vicious pounces, that the wretched victim is 

 fain to escape as he best can from the attack's 

 of his small but determined foe. Even the 

 eagle enjoys no immunity from the persecution 

 of the Purple Martin, which dashes at the 

 regal bird with as much assurance as if it were 

 only chasing a pigeon. It is rather remarkable 

 that although the Purple Martin will generally 

 fly at the king-bird, it will make common 

 cause with that bird against the eagle, and 

 unite in a temporary alliance until the com- 

 mon enemy is driven off. 



The Purple Martin feeds mostly upon the 

 larger insects, such as wasps, bees, and beetles, 

 caring little for the gnats, flies, and other small 

 insects which form the food of the generality 

 of swallows. The flight of this species is 

 wonderfully rapid and active, the little bird 

 dashing to and fro with lightning speed, and 

 wheeling with such remarkable suddenness 

 that it really has nothing to fear from the 

 larger but less active claws of the eagle or 

 falcon. 



When this bird builds in a crevice or other 

 spot which has not been prepared by the hand 

 of man, the nest is found to consist of a rather 

 large mass of dried grass, leaves, moss, feathers, 

 and other similar substances, and contains 

 from four to six white eggs. When several 

 birds are building in proximity to each other, 

 they make an extraordinary noise at the break 



of day, which, although very useful in awaking the farmers and their men in time foi 

 their daily work, is by no means agreeable to those whose tastes do not incline them to 

 early rising. There are generally two broods in each year, and both parents take their 

 fair turn in sitting upon the eggs. 



As might be gathered from the popular name of this bird, the colour of this species is 

 a rich, deep purple, of a very glossy kind. This purple hue is peculiar to the male, and 

 extends over the greater part of the body, with the exception of the wings and tail, which 

 2. T 



WIRE-TAILED a WALLOW. Hirundo filijera. 



