PURPLE MARTIN. 6l 



Martin. The box was put up in the autumn. Near and around 

 the house were a number of well grown apple trees and much shrub- 

 bery, a very fit haunt for the feathered race. About the middle of 

 February the Blue-birds came; in a short time they were very fa- 

 miliar, and took possession of the box: these consisted of two or 

 three pairs. By the fifteenth of May the Blue-birds had eggs, if 

 not young. 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 compelled 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 beauti- 

 ful 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 chan- 

 ticleer 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 twentieth 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 considerable 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 se- 

 cond late in July. During the period in which the female is lay- 

 VOL. v. ft. 



