218 
PURPLE MARTIN. 
tion 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 Avell founded, Ave may with some certainty place this useful and 
delightful companion and friend of the human race 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 flatfish ; in short, it has every indica- 
tion from bodily formation that Providence 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 numbers at Quebec. Hearnc speaks of it in 
lat. 60° North. To ascertain 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 renders 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 descrip- 
tion) and the Martin, permit me to give you an anecdote. In 1800 I 
removed from Lancaster to a farm a few miles above Harrisburg. 
Knowing the benefit derivable to a farmer from the neighborhood of 
the Martin in preventing the depredations of the Bald Eagle, the Hawks 
and even the Crows, my carpenter was employed to form a large box 
with a number of apartments for the Martin. The box was put up in 
the autumn. Near and around the house were a number of well grown 
apple trees and much shrubbery, a very fit haunt for the feathered race. 
About the middle of February the Blue-birds came ; in a short time 
they were very familiar, 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 beautiful traveller, is 
not very distant from my bed head. Their notes seem discordant 
because of their numbers ; yet to me they are pleasing. The indus- 
trious farmer and mechanic would do well to have a box fixed near the 
apartments of their drowsy laborers. 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 per- 
son. Perhaps chanticleer is not their superior in this beneficial qualifi- 
