Progne rubis. 
1892. Mass . 
July 27. Concord.- numbers of Purple Martins again spent the day in the 
(110. 3) tall trees near the swimming place. The brood seen there 
yesterday were united into one floch to-day. I counted ten 
birds in one tree all young. The floch tooh wing and went off 
to the S.W. as I was passing on my way home. 
Young. 
Martins 
July 28. Concord .- Immediately after breakfast I started for a short walk 
As I was passing the Burrills' the calls of Martins attracted my 
attention and looking to the eastward I saw a flock of about a 
dozen of these birds flying in circles at a height of several 
hundred feet over the vineyard of Mr. Merwin's farm. They seem- 
ed to be excited about something and the cause was soon explain- 
ed when a small Hawk which looked exactly Fako, oo lumbar ins 
suddenly appeared directly among them, coming from I know not 
where. For a moment or two it sailed about with them as if it 
meant them no harm but merely wished to join the flock. None of 
the Martins as far as I could see, tried to avoid it but all 
continued their slow, easy, circling flight. Perhaps they were 
too frightened or bewildered to attempt to escape or more probab- 
ly the majority were young, unaware of the fearful risk they were 
running as they brushed past the strange bird in their midst. The 
latter, secure of his prey, doubtless found a certain savage 
pleasure in prolonging the moment of his triumph as a cat plays 
with her mouse or bird before ending its sufferings. But at 
Young 
Martins 
caught 
by _a 
Hawk. 
55 
