54 THE SWALLOW. 



Martens are come ! is always a piece of news that is 

 heard with pleasure, and generally every child runs 

 out, to satisfy himself of its truth. 



This agreeable bird always takes up its summer 

 residence about the habitations of men, and its confi- 

 dence and familiarity are generally a protection 

 against injury. There is scarcely a boy, however 

 fond he may be of his gun, who will shoot a Marten. 

 Such an act of depravity, indeed, would be considered 

 in most neighbourhoods too base and cruel to be soon 

 forgotten. 



The inhabitants of the forest, and the poor labouring 

 slave, as well as the refined people of the world, 

 agree in offering hospitality to the Marten. 



It is common, Mr. Wilson tells us, among several 

 tribes of Indians, to cut off the upper branches of a 

 tree near their cabins, leaving their prongs a foot or 

 two long, and to hang a hollow gourd shell to each 

 prong for these birds to build their nests in. And, on 

 the banks of the Mississippi, the negroes set up long 

 canes with a box on the top, for the same purpose. 

 It is common, indeed, in all parts of our country, for 

 people to set up some sort of accommodation for this 

 favourite bird. 



Their mode of building is too well known to need 

 description. They commonly repair their nest from 

 year to year, and, unless their box is torn down, con- 

 tinue to rear their young in the same place, from one 

 generation to another. 



While the female is setting on her eggs, the male is 

 very attentive to her, visiting her many times in the 

 day, and frequently taking her place, while she goes 



