Tlie Purple Martiu. 
The Purple Mnrtia niiikes its :ii)i)car- 
aiice in Detroit about tlie last of A in il, 
\\iieii it is seen flying- over the city and 
river, feeding on the myriads of inpcets 
that abound at that period. 
Wlio has not, on a summer's af tei iioon, 
watclied the Martin in its ii'i-egular tliu,lit 
as it darts hither and thitl)er,no\v ciroliui;- 
above some steeple, for a moment hov- 
ering over it as though about to liglit, 
now darting in rapid pursuit of some 
hapless insect, unconsciously swallow- 
ing him, immediately ready tor aiiotlicr. 
Martins are expert at bathing' and 
drinking while on the wing . Spinning 
along over the water's surface, a sudden 
movement of the tail ducks the body, 
rising, they shake themselves like a 
Water Spaniel. When thirsty, with 
wings raised at an angle, they sail along- 
close to the water and with successive 
and rapid dips of the head scoop up a 
little each time. 
The Martin possesses a strong hatred 
for all cats and dogs, driving away, with 
a display of great fur.y every one ob- 
served near its home. 
'I'here is a large Martin house on a tall 
pole in our yai'd, where several paii-have 
reared their young for a number of years. 
During the winter two smaller houses 
were put up with a view to inviting the 
Bluebirds, but when the Martins arrived 
last spring, they took posses?ion, after 
driA'ing out the Bluebirds. The Bluebirds 
were very plucky and courageous, but 
were compelled to tlee from the more 
powerful blows of the Martins. 
Thinking the JIartins were greedy, I 
ca)>tured one of them and confined him 
in a box for awhile ; however, as soon as 
liberated he returned to the Bluebii-ds' 
house and resumed possession. Captur- 
ing him a second time, 1 doubled the 
dose of couftnemcnt to no eti'ect. Becom- 
ing angry with Mr. Martin, I again suc- 
ceeded in capturing him, and this time 
he leceived such rough handlin- that he 
flew away and never returned. 
The Martin's chirrup is scarcely melo- 
dious; it is principally heard at early 
dawn and is the signal foi- rising for the 
industrious farmer and planter. The 
Mai'tin's ;iest is built on that of the ]irr- 
ceeding year or repaiied, about ten days 
after his arrival here. It is composed of 
grass, leaves, hay, paper, feathers and fre- 
quently rags. The eggs, which are pure 
white, are from four to six in number. 
'J'wo broods are reared each season. The 
male assists in the labor of incubation. 
Their food is entirely insectivorous, and 
frefiuently. on examining their stomachs 
I liave found beetles of enormous size. 
G. H. R.. Detroit, Mich, 
All exchange announces the discovery 
of a fossil forest near Frauent, Scotland. 
Some forty or fifty tree trunks have been 
laid hare. The full dimensions of the for- 
est arc as yet onlj^ conjective. One trunk 
is nearly three feet in diameter. They are 
for the most part of free stone. 
A Portable Fishi'ry. 
One morning last month the United 
States Fish (Jonnnission car, under the 
management of J. Frank Ellis, w as sta- 
tioned at tlie Union Depot for the jiur- 
pose of disti'ibuting German Carp to 
those who desired them, about TOdO being 
distributed tliroughout Kansas. It is 
said that 17,(JU0 of tliese flsh were taken 
from the hatcheries, at \\'ashington, dur- 
ing the month of Septembei'. On lea\- 
ing Kansas City, the fish car I'eliUMu'd to 
Washington to get an inv oice of several 
thousand Trout and Salmor, which it 
will'bring to the \V'est tor distribution. 
Mr. Ellis said a distrihmion of Carp 
made several years ago, has spread so 
lapidlj' in Missouri that it was not nec- 
essary to bring any more here. Missouri 
is one of the best localities in the United 
States for fish breeding; streams of all 
sorts, from the Big Muddy to the frog 
jionds, being adapted to the breeding of 
<Jarp. Anyone can have fish sent out b,\' 
the United States Fish Commission, from 
tlie iidiiit (.f disti'ibution, l>y pacing tlie 
■ express charges. Kansas (.'ity is the dis- 
tributing point fi r Kaii.-as and .A.issonri. 
Mr. Ellis promises, upou his return, to 
liiiiig an abundai ce of Salmon, of the 
Northern Lake variety, and experiment 
with them In the pools and streams of 
this state. He also promises to bring a 
large number of Gold and Silver fish as 
well as fancy tisli of other varieties, 
which he will di;^tribute among tlie ladies 
of this city who want them. Tlie Carp 
were kept in gallon cans, each can hav- 
ing holes bored in the cover to admit 
air. They are loosely packed in the top 
of the refi'igei ator at the bottom of tlie 
car. suspendeil on springs to prevent too 
violent jolting. 
W. A. M. of Washington, D, C. writes: 
Have li\-ed in Washington, near the Cap- 
itol groimds,for a lunnbei- of years. These 
grounds are extensive, comprising 
acies, and are covered with a great vari- 
ety of trees and bushes, intersi)ersed 
with fine lawns. Under the trees and 
bushes are oblong strips on which the 
scientific name and native c<iunti-y of 
each plant is painted. This shrubbery 
affords fine nesting and bi-eedinu' places 
for the birds coming liere, which are 
strictly protected by law. 
About the latter part of March, Purple 
Giackles literally covei-ed the tri'c tops, 
filling the air with their creaking'-hingy" 
notes. During spring and summer I have 
seen Catbirds, llobins. Bluebirds, Eng- 
lish Sparrows, (Jedar Birds. Smnnierffed- 
birds. Mourning Doves, Ked-winged 
Blackbirds, ^V reus. Meadow Larks, Gold- 
finches, King-birds and numerous warb- 
lers. 1 hope to make the list more com- 
plet-e next season. 
If you are not already a subf ci'iber 
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