PURPLE MARTIN 



63 



The flight of the Purple Martin unites in it all the swiftness, 

 ease, rapidity of turning and gracefulness of motion of its tribe. 

 Like the Swift of Europe, he sails much with little action of the 

 wings. He passes through the most crowded parts of our streets, 

 eluding the passengers with the quickness of thought; or plays 

 among the clouds, gliding about at a vast height, like an aerial 

 being. His usual note peuo peuo peuo, h loud and musical; but is 

 frequently succeeded by others more low and guttural. Soon after 

 the twentieth of August he leaves Pennsylvania for the south. 



This bird has been described three or four different times by 

 European writers, as so many different species. The Canadian 

 Swallow of Turton, and the Great American Martin of Edwards, 

 being evidently the female of the present species. The Violet 

 Swallow of the former author, said to inhabit Louisiana, differs in 

 no respect from the present. Deceived by the appearance of the 

 flight of this bird, and its similarity to that of the Swift of Europe, 

 strangers from that country have also asserted that the Swift is 

 common to North America and the United States. No such bird, 

 however, inhabits any part of this continent that I have as yet 

 visited. 



The Purple Martin is eight inches in length, and sixteen 

 inches in extent; except the lores which are black, and the wings 

 and tail, which are of a brownish black, he is of a rich and deep 

 purplish blue, with strong violet reflections ; the bill is strong, the 

 gap very large ; the legs also short, stout, and of a dark dirty pur- 

 ple; the tail consists of twelve feathers, is considerably forked and 

 edged with purple blue; the eye full and dark. 



The female (fig. 2.) measures nearly as large as the male ; the 

 upper parts are blackish brown, with blue and violet reflections 

 thinly scattered; chin and breast greyish brown; sides under the 

 wings darker; belly and vent whitish, not pure, with stains of dus- 

 ky and yellow ochre ; wings and tail blackish brown. 



