PURPLE MARTIN 



59 



young family, on the first decline of summer, to a more congenial 

 climate. 



The summer residence of this agreeable bird is universally 

 among the habitations of man; who, having no interest in his de- 

 struction, and deriving considerable advantage as well as amuse- 

 ment from his company, is generally his friend and protector* 

 Wherever he comes^ he finds some hospitable retreat fitted up for 

 his accommodation and that of his young, either in the projecting 

 wooden cornice — on the top of the roof, or sign post — in the box 

 appropriated to the Blue-bird; or, if all these be wanting, in the 

 dove-house among the pigeons. In this last case, he sometimes 

 takes possession of one quarter or tier of the premises, in which not 

 a pigeon dare for a moment set its foot. Some people have large 

 conveniences formed for the Martins, with many apartments, which 

 are usually fully tenanted, and occupied regularly every spring; 

 and in such places, particular individuals have been noted to re- 

 turn to the same box for several successive years. Even the soli- 

 tary Indian seems to have a particular respect for this bird. The 

 Chactaws and Chickasaws cut off all the top branches from a sap- 

 ling near their cabins, leaving the prongs a foot or two in lengthy 

 on each of which they hang a gourd, or calabash, properly hollow- 

 ed out for their convenience. On the banks of the Mississippi the 

 negroes stick up long canes, with the same species of apartment 

 fixed to their tops, in which the Martins regularly breed. Wherever 

 I have travelled in this country I have seen with pleasure the hos- 

 pitality of the inhabitants to this favorite bird. 



As superseding the necessity of many of my own observations 

 on this species, I beg leave to introduce in this place an extract of 

 a letter from the late learned and venerable John Joseph Henry, 

 esq. judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, a man of most 

 amiable manners, which was written to me but a few months be- 

 fore his death, and with which I am happy to honor my perform- 

 ance. — "The history of the Purple Martin of America," says he. 



