294 PERCHERS AND SINGERS 
quarrelsome, low-minded and utterly uninteresting little 
wretch, a gutter-rat among birds. Unless coerced with a 
shotgun, he steals the nesting-boxes of all other small birds, 
driving before him the Martins, bluebirds and many others 
who used to love our company. In the North the Purple 
PURPLE MARTIN 
Martin does not seem to thrive away from the haunts of man, 
and from many localities it has totally disappeared. 
The disappearance of this bird from the North is no doubt 
partly due to the domineering English sparrow, but what 
probably is the chief cause of its local extermination has al- 
ready been pointed out—its slaughter for sport and as “‘food.” 
In many portions of the North efforts are being made to in- 
duce this charming farm bird to return in something like its 
former numbers. 
