PURPLE MARTIN. 
407 
so, according to the doctrine of torpidity, has consequently 
a pretty long annual nap in those frozen regions, of eight or 
nine months, under the ice! We, however, choose to consider 
him as advancing northerly with the gradual approach of spring, 
and retiring wdth his young family, on the first decline of sum- 
mer, to a more congenial climate. 
The summer residence of this agreeable bird is universally 
among the habitations of man; who, having no interest in his 
destruction, and deriving considerable advantage as well as 
amusement from his company, is generally his friend and pro- 
tector. Wherever he comes, he finds some hospitable retreat 
fitted up for his accommodation and that of his young, either 
in the projecting wooden cornice — on the top of the roof, or 
sign post — in the box appropriated to the Blue-bird; or, if all 
these be wanting, in the dove-house among the pigeons. In 
this last case, he sometimes takes possession of one quarter or 
tier of the premises, in which not a pigeon dare for a moment 
set its foot. Some people have large conveniences formed for 
the Martins, with many apartments, which are usually fully 
tenanted, and occupied regularly every spring; and in such pla- 
ces, particular individuals have been noted to return to the same 
box for several successive years. Even the solitary Indian 
seems to have a particular respect for this bird. The Chactaws 
and Chickasaws cut ofi* all the top branches from a sapling near 
their cabins, leaving the prongs a foot or two in length, on each 
of which they hang a gourd, or calabash, properly hollowed out 
for their convenience. On the banks of the Mississippi the ne- 
groes stick up long canes, with the same species of apartment 
fixed to their tops, in which the Martins regularly breed. 
Wherever I have travelled in this country I have seen with 
pleasure the hospitality of the inhabitants to this favourite bird. 
As superseding the necessity of many of my own observations 
on this species, I beg leave to introduce in this place an extract 
of a letter from the late learned and venerable John Joseph 
Henry, esq. judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, a 
man of most amiable manners, which was written to me but a 
