174 THE PURPLE MARTIN. 



All our cities are furnished with houses for the reception of these birds; 

 and it is seldom that even lads bent upon mischief disturb the favoured Mar- 

 tin. He sweeps along the streets, here and there seizing a fly, hangs to the 

 eaves of the houses, or peeps into them, as he poises himself in the air in 

 front of the windows, or mounts high above the city, soaring into the clear 

 sky, plays with the string of the child's kite, snapping at it, as he swiftly 

 passes, with unerring precision, or suddenly sweeps along the roofs, chasing 

 off grimalkin, who is probably prowling in quest of his young. 



In the Middle States, the nest of the Martin is built, or that of the preced- 

 ing year repaired and augmented, eight or ten days after its arrival, or about 

 the 20th of April. It is composed of dry sticks, willow-twigs, grasses, leaves 

 green and dry, feathers, and whatever rags he meets with. The eggs, which 

 are pure white, are from four to six. Many pairs resort to the same box to 

 breed, and the little fraternity appear to live in perfect harmony. They rear 

 two broods in a season. The first comes forth in the end of May, the second 

 about the middle of July. In Louisiana, they sometimes have three broods. 

 The male takes part of the labour of incubation, and is extremely attentive 

 to his mate. He is seen twittering on the box, and frequently flying past 

 the hole. His notes are at this time emphatical and prolonged, low and less 

 musical than even his common pews. Their food consists entirely of insects, 

 among which are large beetles. They seldom seize the honey-bee. 



The circumstance of their leaving the United States so early in autumn, 

 has inclined me to think that they must go farther south than any of our 

 migratory land birds. 



Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. i. p. 58. 



Hirundo purpurea, Bonap. Syn., p. 64. 



Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 598. 



Purple Martin, Hirundo purpurea, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 115; vol. v. p. 408. 



Bill rather stout; wings as long as the tail, which is deeply emarginate. 

 Plumage silky, shining, purplish-black, with steel-blue reflections; quills and 

 tail-feathers brownish-black; tarsi and toes purplish-black. Female with the 

 upper parts paler, and tinged with grey, the lower light grey, longitudinally 

 streaked with black. 



Male, 1\, 16. Female, 7^, 15 T V 



