PURPLE MARTIN. 
35 
nervous pinion ; its legs are short, too, so as not to 
sho f hea-d and body are flattish ; in 
that indication, from bodily formation, 
intended it as a bird of tlie longest 
shir , "^P »P®aks of it as a visitant of New Hamp- 
Hp-,**’ ^ nav'e seen it in great numbers at Quebec, 
tim" ’*■ north. To ascertain the 
its if'*” ®®nii“cf of tlie martin to New Orleans, and 
de -i .*fl^***^i*^'* from Mexico, Quito, and Chili, are 
babl ti !* kistory of this bird ; but it is pro- 
II,: * . ■‘i* i'ke state of science in those countries renders 
hopeless. 
qjjP . oiative to the domestic history, if it may be so 
"■ive ’ *** bluebird and the martin, permit me to 
caste ’*•" nuecdotc : In 1800 I removed from Lan- 
iiiw I *** a farm a few miles above Harrisburgh. Know- 
bo" A derivable to a farmer from the neigh- 
of }| of the martin, in preventing the depredations 
Car eagle, the hawks, and even the crows, my 
nuf r**^*""^ 'cas employed to form a large box, with a 
® cr of apartments for the martin. The box was 
np in the autumn. Near and around the house 
put 
shrill f "nmber of well grown apple-trees and much 
Abo, '“'■y *'ot tlie feathered race, 
a sho't* ■ February, the bluebirds came; in 
®'on f f ****^''' " '’ey tamiliar, and took posses- 
By .L ',5 tkese consisted of two or three pairs, 
youiio-* K " *^* ^kiy, the bluebirds had eggs, if not 
the if' the martins arrived in numbers, visited 
seeinip 1 ■'* conflict ensued. The bluebirds, 
the nr t fionnated by their right of possession, or for 
martin*^ cction ot their young, were victorious. The 
the eicrl.rf n arrived about the middle of May, for 
the box .‘’^*®'''ing years, examined the apartments of 
ttniformlV'" *"*’ ®*tsence of the bluebirds, but were 
lutt, 
compelled to tly upon the return of the 
will caused you by reading this note you 
tvith tV’ to charge to the martin. A box replete 
t beautiful traveller, is not very distant from 
