SWALLOWS. 151 



a, 7-8 inclies long. "Lustrous blue black; no purple 

 anywhere. The $ and young are much duller above, and more 

 or less white below, streaked with gray." (Coues.) 



6. The nest and eggs are essentially like those of the 

 White-bellied Swallow (III) in every respect, except that the 

 eggs are larger than those of that bird, averaging .95 X .70 

 of an inch. 



c. The Purple Martins reach eastern Massachusetts on 

 the first of May, or earlier, and leave it about the first of Sep- 

 tember. They are very locally distributed, and in many places 

 are at present never seen. They are " very abundant upon 

 Cape Cod," and are perhaps as common in Boston * and other 

 cities as in the country. They are allied in many ways to the 

 White-bellied Swallows — particularly so in their habits. The 

 latter, however, become more common every year; but the 

 Martins have deserted many places, where they were once well 

 known, though they are probably multiplying in their present 

 homes. 



" The Martin," says Wilson, " differs from all the rest of our 

 Swallows in the particular prey which he selects. Wasps, 

 be^s, large beetles, particularly those called by the boys gold- 

 smiths, seem his favorite game. I have taken four of these 

 large beetles from the stomach of a Purple Martin, each of 

 which seemed entire and even unbruised." 



" The flight of the Purple Martin unites in it aU the swift- 

 ness, ease, rapidity of turning, and gracefulness of motion of 

 its tribe. Like the Swift of Europe, he sails much with little 

 action of the wings." 



d. " His usual note, peuopeuo peuo, is loud and musical ; 

 but it is frequently succeeded by others more low and gut- 

 tural." To the above extract I have nothing of interest to 

 add. 



It nests only in or near cities, towns, and paj^ent, and they are doubtless at least 



■villages, in boxes put up for its aecom- partly responsible for the slow but 



modation. Its superior size and strength steady diminution in the numbers of 



enable it to hold at bay the hordes of the Martins which hafi been generally 



House Sparrows which regard its snug noted in New England during recent 



habitations with longing eyes, but these years. — W. B. 



insidious little pests have been seen to * None, so far aa I am aware, now 



destroy the Martin's eggs or young breed in or very near Boston. — W. B. 

 during the temporary absence of the 



