PROGNE SUBIS : PURPLE MARTIN. 189 



are awaited with interest, and will, it is hoped, be 

 promptly reported by those who may have it in their 

 power to extend the known range of the species. 



The nests, like those of the Bank Swallow, are built 

 of hay and feathers, but are very differently placed, 

 the Rough-wing nesting in artificial retreats as a 

 chink in the boarding of a building, a crevice in a 

 stone wall, the abutment or span of a bridge, and the 

 like.; preferably near water. The eggs are pure white, 

 unmarked, to the number of four to six ; they closely 

 resemble Bank Swallows', but are a little larger, aver- 

 aging perhaps 0.75x0.55. 



PURPLE MARTIN. 

 PROGNE SUBIS (Z,., 1758) Bd. 



Chars. Male, adult : Lustrous blue-black. Female and young : 

 Duller steel-blue ; below, more or less extensively white with 

 dark gray streaks. Bill and feet black, the former very stout 

 and much curved for a bird of this family ; nostrils circular and 

 prominent. Length, 7.00 or more ; extent, 16.00 ; wing, nearly 

 6.00 ; tail, 3.50, simply forked. 



A common summer resident, almost universally 

 nesting nowadays in the boxes provided for its ac- 

 commodation, or equivalent retreats about buildings. 

 The distribution of the species, though in no wise 

 dependent upon Faunal considerations, is influenced 

 by other conditions which cause the bird to be irreg- 

 ularly dispersed in New England, and rare or even 

 wanting in many localities where one would expect to 

 find it. I am inclined to think that here and else- 

 where in the United States the Martin is not on the 



