568 AVES—MARTEN. 
speaking, only the swallow that washes on the wing, Ly making many suc 
cessive dips into a pond. Swallows will attend horsemen for miles, over 
wide downs, to collect such insects as are aroused by the trampling of the 
horses’ feet. 
THE PURPLE MARTEN! 
, 
Is a general inhabitant of the United States, and a particular favorite wher- 
ever he takes up his abode. 
This bird, like the rest of his tribe, is migratory. His summer residence 
is universally among the habitations of man, who, having no interest in his 
destruction, is generally his friend and protector. Whenever he comes, he 
finds some hospitable retreat fitted up for his accommodation. Some people 
have large conveniences formed for the martens, with many apartments, 
which are fully tenanted, and occupied regularly every spring. Even the 
solitary Indian seems to have a particular respect for this bird. _ The Choc- 
taws and Chickasaws cut off all the top branches of a sapling near their 
cabins, leaving the prongs a foot or two long, on each side of which they 
hang a gourd or calabash, hollowed out for their convenience. On the 
Mississippi the negroes stick up long canes, with the same species of apart- 
ment, in which the martens regularly breed. They begin their nest about 
the middle of April. It is formed of a quantity of willows, slender straws, 
feathers, and hay. When the female is sitting, she is frequently visited by 
the male, who occupies her place while she takes a short recreation abroad 
He sits on the outside of the apartment where she is, dressing and arranging 
his plumage, occasionally passing to the door, as if to inquire how she is. 
Ilis notes at this time seem to have a peculiar softness, and his gratulations 
are expressive of much tenderness. 
Conjugal fidelity seems to be faithfully preserved by these birds. A male 
and femeie marten once took possession of a box in Mr Bartram’s garden. A 
day or two after, a second female made her appearance, but from the cold 
reception she met with, being frequently beat off by the male, she finally 
abandoned the place, and set off no doubt to seek a more sociable com- 
panion. 
The flight of the purple marten unites in it all the swiftness, ease, rapidity 
of turning, and gracefulness of motion of its tribe. His usual note peuo, 
peuo, peuo, is loud and musical; but is frequently succeeded by others that 
—— ee eee 
Hirundo purpurea, Lan. 
