PURPLE MARTIN. . 369 
Hawk or the Eagle, is astonishing. He also bestows an occasional 
bastinading on the King Bird when he finds him too near his premises ; 
though he will, at any time, instantly co-operate with him in attacking 
the common enemy. 
The Martin differs from all the rest of our Swallows in the particu- 
lar prey which he selects. Wasps, bees, large beetles, particularly 
those called by the boys goldsmiths, 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 all the swiftness, 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. He 
passes through the most crowded parts of our streets, eluding the pas- 
sengers with the quickness of thought; or plays among the clouds, 
gliding about at a vast height, like an aérial being. His usual note, 
peuo, peuo, peuo, is loud and musical; but is frequently succeeded by 
others more low and guttural. Soon after the 20th of August, he 
leaves Pennsylvania for the south. 
This bird has been described, three or four different times, by Eu- 
ropean writers, as so many different species, —the Canadian Swallow 
of Turton, and the Great American Martin of Edwards, being evi- 
dently the female of the present species. The Violet Swallow of the 
former author, said to inhabit Louisiana, differs in no respect from the 
present. Deceived by the appearance of the flight of this bird, and its 
similarity to that of the Swift of Europe, strangers from that country 
have also asserted that the Swift is common to North America and 
the United States. No such bird, however, inhabits any part of this 
continent that I have as yet visited. 
The Purple Martin is eight inches in length, and sixteen inches in 
extent; except the lores, which are black, and the wings and tail, which 
are of a brownish black, he is of a rich and deep purplish blue, with 
strong violet reflections; the bill is strong, the gap very large; the 
legs also short, stout, and of a dark, dirty purple; the tail consists of 
twelve feathers, is considerably forked, and edged with purple blue; 
the eye full and dark. 
The female measures nearly as large as the male; the upper parts 
are blackish brown, with blue and violet reflections thinly scattered ; 
chin and breast, grayish brown; sides under the wings, darker; belly 
and vent, whitish, not pure, with stains of dusky and yellow ochre; 
wings and tail, blackish brown. 
