TREE-MARTIN 31 
be added, a greater degree of zeal and fury than can 
animate its adversary. The contest is thus nearly an 
equal one; and the Oven-bird, particularly when 
its young are already hatched, is often able to main- 
tain its own. But the Martins never suffer defeat ; 
for, when unable to take the citadel by storm, they 
fall back on their dribbling system of warfare, 
which they keep up till the young birds leave the 
nest, when they take possession before it has grown 
cold. 
The Martin makes its own nest chiefly of large 
feathers, and lays four eggs, long, pointed, and pure 
white. 
It will be remarked that in all its habits above- 
mentioned this bird differs widely from the two 
preceding species. It also differs greatly from them 
in its manner of flight. The Purple Martins move 
with surprising grace and celerity, the wings extended 
to their utmost ; they also love to sail in circles high 
up in the air, or about the summits of tall trees, and 
particularly during a high wind. At such times 
several individuals are usually seen together, and 
all seem striving to outvie each other in the beauty 
of their evolutions. 
The Tree-Martin is never seen to soar about in 
circles; and though when hawking after flies and 
moths it sweeps the surface of the grass with amazing 
swiftness, at other times it has a flight strangely slow 
and of a fashion peculiar to itself: the long wings 
are depressed as much as those of a Wild Duck when 
dropping on to the water, and are constantly agitated 
