60 



PURPLE MARTIN. 



" which is indigenous in Pennsylvania and countries very far north 

 of our latitude, will, under your control, become extremely inte- 

 resting. We know its manners, habitudes, and useful qualities 

 here; but we are not generally acquainted with some traits in its 

 character, which in my mind rank it in the class of the most re- 

 markable birds of passage. Somewhere (I cannot now refer to 

 book and page) in Anson's Voyage, or in Dampier, or some other 

 southern voyager, I recollect that the Martin is named as an inha- 

 bitant of the regions of southern America, particularly of Chili; 

 and in consequence from the knowledge we have of its immense 

 emigration northward in our own country, we may fairly presume 

 that its flight extends to the south as far as Terra del Fuego. If 

 the conjecture be well founded, we may with some certainty place 

 this useful and delightful companion and friend of the human i-ace 

 as the first in the order of birds of passage. Nature has furnished 

 it with a lengthy, strong, and nervous pinion; its legs are short 

 too, as not to impede its passage; the head and body are flattish; 

 in short, it has every indication from bodily formation that Provi- 

 dence intended it as a bird of the longest flight. Belknap speaks of 

 it as a visitant of New Hampshire. I have seen it in great num- 

 bers at Quebec. Hearne speaks of it in lat. 60° North. To ascer- 

 tain the times of the coming of the Martin to New Orleans; and 

 its migration to and from Mexico, Quito and Chili, are desirable 

 data in the history of this bird ; but it is probable that the state of 

 science in those countries render this wish hopeless. 



" Relative to the domestic history, if it may be so called, of 

 the Blue-bird (of which you have given so correct and charming a 

 description) and the Martin, permit me to give you an anecdote. 

 In 1800 I removed from Lancaster to a farm a few miles above 

 Harrisburgh. Knowing the benefit derivable to a farmer from the 

 neighbourhood of the Martin in preventing the depredations of the 

 Bald Eagle, the Hawks and even the Crows, my carpenter was em- 

 ployed to form a large box with a number of apartments for the 



