990 KEPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



143. GENUS PROGNE BOIE. 



*237. (611). Progne subis (LINN). 



Purple Martin. 



Adult Male. Lustrous blue-black. Adult Female and Young. 

 Much duller above; more or less white below, streaked with gray. 



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



EANGE. America, from Argentine Kepublic and Bolivia north over 

 eastern United States to Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland. 

 Breeds throughout its range. Winters from Mexico, south. 



Nest, of grass, straw, string, paper, etc., lined with feathers; in 

 boxes provided for them. Eggs, 4-5; pure glossy- white; .97 by .72. 



The Purple Martin is a well known summer resident in most locali- 

 ties. Some places, however, it is not found, though common a few 

 miles away. In many localities its numbers are much less than for- 

 merly, while in a few places it is noted as becoming more common. 

 None of our native birds have suffered more from the English Spar- 

 row than this. Their houses, homes in box cornices, and other nest- 

 ing sites, have been occupied by the irrepressible little foreigner. The 

 Martins fought bravely for their homes, but in many cases gave up the 

 battle. In southeastern Indiana they are notably few in numbers, 

 compared with those that summered there before the Sparrows came. 

 This is true about all the cities and larger towns, not of this State 

 only, but of the eastern United States generally. At Lafayette, I 

 am informed, they were more common in 1896 than usual. In Dc- 

 kalb County it is rare (Mrs. Hine), and is not found at Waterloo 

 (Snyder) or at Redkey (Hathaway). I suspect, from the fact that 

 they regularly return each spring, they will adapt themselves to cir- 

 cumstances and once more become numerous. This could be helped 

 by our having boxes prepared that could be put up about the time 

 they appear or at a moment's notice when they arrive. These sites 

 would not then be occupied by Sparrows in advance, and, with a little 

 watchfulness upon our part the Martins would probably be secure in 

 their occupancy of them. They would be further encouraged by 

 keeping their houses closed each year until the time of their arrival. 



The early and late records of first arrival are: Spearsville, March 

 21, 1894, March 29, 1897; Brookville, March 27, 1882, April 16, 

 1894; Bloomington, March 28, 1886, April 17, 1895; Bicknell, April 

 6, 1894, April 12, 1895; Greencastle, April 2, 1893, April 12, 1894; 

 Lafayette, March 23, 1897, April 30, 1893; Eichmond, March 25, 

 1897; Muncie, April 3, 1897, April 28, 1893; Dekalb County, April 5, 

 1896, April 17, 1894; Laporte, April 4, 1893, April 14, 1894; Peters- 



