542 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
245. Purple Martin. Progne subis subis (Linn.). (611) 
Synonyms: Martin, Black Martin, House Martin.—Hirundo subis, Linn., 1758.— 
Hirundo purpurea, Wils., Aud., Nutt.—Progne subis, Baird, Allen, Coues, and most 
authors. 
Figure 128. 
Largest of our swallows; tail moderately forked. Sexes unlike. Male 
entirely dark steel-blue except wings and tail which are brownish black 
without metallic reflections. Female similar above, but duller; under 
parts grayish or brownish white. 
Distribution.—Temperate North America, north to Ontario and the 
Saskatchewan, south to the higher parts of Mexico, wintering in northern 
South America. 
This species is too well known to need any extended description, being 
a familiar bird in nearly every city and village of the state, nesting about 
the cornices of city blocks, in boxes or bird houses 
especially provided for it, or less commonly in wood- 
peckers’ holes or other cavities in dead trees. It has 
constant quarrels with the English Sparrow and in 
many instances is known to have been driven from its 
quarters by these vandals, although it not infrequently 
defends its home successfully against them. 
In southern Michigan the Martin arrives from the 
south in April, sometimes as early as the first (Peters- /f 
burg 1890, Bay City April 2, 1897), more often between ° 
the 10th and 20th of the month, but sometimes not »,, oe aie 
until the very last of the month or even the first of 
May. Careful study of the migration of this species might settle some 
interesting points as to the migration routes in the state. It was 
recorded at Palmer, Marquette county, May 28, 1897, and at the 
Sault May 23, 1899. It is one of the first of our swallows to move south- 
ward in autumn, usually disappearing about the middle of August and rarely 
seen as late as September 1. It thus precedes the Bank Swallow, Barn 
Swallow and Cliff Swallow by one or two weeks, and the White-bellied 
Swallow by a month or more. 
Ordinarily Martins migrate by day and Prof. Frank Smith observed 
them in August 1905, at Macatawa Park, Ottawa county, moving southward 
in immense numbers. He writes “On August 15, 1905 there was a very 
extensive movement of Purple Martins southward over a strip of territory 
about one-half mile in width along the shore of Lake Michigan. I counted 
for three to five minute periods at several different times and found that an 
average of nearly forty Martins per minute were passing over. I went to 
Holland, seven miles inland, about 11 a. m. and saw almost no Martins, 
although watching continuously one and one-half hours (four birds only). 
They were as abundant as ever on my return to the Lake, 237 passing in 
five and one-half minutes.” There is one record of Martins migrating at 
night, when they were heard and seen (against the moon) on the night of 
August 8, at Waterville, Me., and from the fact that first arrivals in spring 
are as often noted early in the morning as toward night it seems probable 
that they not infrequently travel at night. 
Martins are among our most beneficial birds, their food consisting almost 
