PURPLE MARTIN. j$y 



they were very familiar, and took possession of the box: these 

 consisted of two or three pairs. By the 15th of May, the blue 

 birds had eggs, if not 3 r oung. Now the martins arrived in 

 numbers, visited the box, and a severe conflict ensued. The 

 blue birds, seemingly animated by their right of possession, 

 or for the protection of their young, were victorious. The 

 martins regularly arrived about the middle of May, for the 

 eight following years, examined the apartments of the box, 

 in the absence of the blue birds, but were uniformly com- 

 pelled to fly upon the return of the latter. 



" The trouble caused you by reading this note you will be 

 pleased to charge to the martin. A box replete with that 

 beautiful traveller is not very distant from my bed-head. 

 Their notes seem discordant because of their numbers ; yet to 

 me they are pleasing. The industrious farmer and mechanic 

 would do well to have a box fixed near the apartments of their 

 drowsy labourers. Just as the dawn approaches, the martin 

 begins its notes, which last half a minute or more, and then 

 subside until the twilight is fairly broken. An animated and 

 incessant musical chattering now ensues, sufficient to arouse 

 the most sleepy person. Perhaps chanticleer is not their 

 superior in this beneficial qualification; and he is far beneath 

 the martin in his powers of annoying birds of prey." 



I shall add a few particulars to this faithful and interesting 

 sketch by my deceased friend : — About the middle, or 20th, 

 of April, the martins first begin to prepare their nest. The 

 last of these which I examined was formed of dry leaves of 

 the weeping willow, slender straws, hay, and feathers in con- 

 siderable quantity. The eggs were four, very small for the 

 size of the bird, and pure white, without any spots. The 

 first brood appears in May, the second, late in July. During 

 the period in which the female is laying, and before she com- 

 mences incubation, they are both from home the greater part 

 of the day. When the female is sitting, she is frequently 

 visited by the male, who also occupies her place while she 

 takes a short recreation abroad. He also often passes. a 



