190 BRITISH BIRDS. 



as mucli at home amidst the bustle and confusion as in the quiet country 

 districts. 



Wilson states that ahout the middle or the 20th of Aprils the Purple 

 Martin sets about preparing its nest ; and the first brood appears in May, 

 and the second late in July. It used formerly to breed in holes in rocks 

 and trees, but now buildings seem to possess the greatest charm for it. 

 The nest appears to be a very loosely made structure of dry leaves and 

 grass, fine straws and twigs, and is lined with a considerable quantity of 

 feathers. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway state that rags, string, and other 

 rubbish often form part of the nest, which is thoroughly repaired after 

 the first brood has flown, and is occupied, presumably, by the same pair of 

 birds every year. The eggs are from four to six in number, pure white 

 and very glossy, and measure from I'O to '93 inch in length, and from 

 ■8 to "65 inch in breadth. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway state that eggs 

 from Florida are proportionately smaller than those from the Northern 

 States. Wilson writes : — " During the period in which the female is lay- 

 ing, and before she commences incubation, they are both from home the 

 greater part of the day. When the female is sitting she is frequently 

 visited by the male, who also occupies her place while she takes a short 

 recreation abroad .... He sits on the outside, dressing and arranging 

 his plumage, occasionally passing to the door of the apartment as if to 

 enquire how she does. His note at this time seems to have assumed a 

 peculiar softness, and his gratulations are expressive of much tenderness." 



The Purple Martin is said to be a very bold and courageous bird, and 

 never fails to attack an intruder on its domain. He is even said to mob 

 such large birds as Crows, Hawks, and Eagles, attacking them with such 

 vigour as to make them instantly resort to flight. The song of this bird is a 

 succession of twittering notes heard at the earliest dawn, and during the 

 early period of incubation incessantly uttered. Its flight is very rapid ; and 

 it glides very often like our Swift. Wilson writes : — " He passes through 

 the most crowded parts of our streets, eluding the passengers with the 

 quickness of thought; or plays among the clouds, gliding about at a 

 vast height, like an aerial being. His usual note, peuo, peuo, peuo, is loud 

 and musical ; but is frequently succeeded by others more low and gut- 

 tural." 



The food of the Purple Martin is principally composed of bees, wasps, 

 and large beetles, a fare very difl'erent from that of most Swallows. These 

 birds do not winter in the United States ; and their departure is said to 

 vary according to the state of the season. They move southwards in large 

 flocks, occasionally halting for a few days on the hill-sides near the sea, 

 then passing on again. 



The Purple Martin has the general colour of the plumage lustrous steel- 

 blue with a purplish gloss ; the wings and tail are dull black; on the sides 



