PURPLE MARTIN. 
71 
HIHTJNDO SUBIS. 
Purple Martin. 
Eirundo subis Linn., Syst. Nat., 10th Ed.; 1758, 192. 
Progne cryptoleuca Baird, Review N. A. Birds; 1864, 277. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Size, large. Eorm, robust. Bill, stout; upper mandible considerably arched. Tail, short and 
moderately forked. Eeet, stout. Sternum, stoutly built. Tongue, short, thin, horny, triangular in form, tip rather 
deeply cleft, but not ciliated. 
Color. Adult male, uniform steely-blue throughout, with wings and tail brownish. There is a narrow white 
patch on the sides beneath the wings. Tibiae are grayish. 
Adult female, similar to the male above but .grayish beneath, which becomes nearly white on the abdomen and 
under tail coverts. 
Young male, like the adult female, excepting that the forehead is grayish and there are a few scattering feathers 
of steely-blue beneath. 
Young female, with the top of the head grayish and with considerable white beneath. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
I have a specimen of the so-called P. cryptoleuca in my collection which was taken in Florida, in May, 1872. As 
the only difference between this and the typical subis is that the feathers of the anal region have white bases 
instead of grayish, and the tail is a little more deeply forked, I do not consider it entitled to a specific rank, for subis 
is exceedingly variable in this respect. Another specimen from Florida, taken at the same time, has the bases of the 
feathers of the anal region grayer than the other, and a third, taken late in April, is exactly like northern birds. 
The first two mentioned have a violet tinge on the upper surface, causing a richer color, which is what we should 
expect from southern born specimens. This species is readily distinguished from all other North American 
swallows by its large size and uniform colors. Found breeding throughout the United States, north into Canada. 
Winters in the West Indies and South America. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of six specimens.—Length, 8-27; stretch, 16-45; wing, 5-70; tail, 3-00; bill, -57; tarsus, 
•58. Longest specimen, 8-35; greatest extent of wings, 16-75; longest wing, 6-00; tail, 3-10; bill, -50; tarsus, -50. 
Shortest specimen, 8-25; smallest extent of wings, 16-30; shortest wing, 5-50; tail, 2-75; bill, -45; tarsus, -45. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in holes of trees or in martin-boxes; composed of dried grasses and leaves and lined with feathers; 
the structure varying in size with the apartment in which it is placed. 
Eggs, from four to six in number, oval in form, white in color. Dimensions, from -80 x -65 to -70 x -60. An 
abnormal egg of this species, which I have in my collection, that was taken by Mr. Ingersoll at Oberlin, Ohio, is 
very large in size, measuring 1-00 x -80, and is covered by minute rounded protuberances, similar to those occasionally 
seen on hens’ eggs, but it is of the usual lorm. 
HABITS. 
The first time I ever met with the Purple Martins in Florida was on Biscayenne Bay. I was 
rowing along the shore north of Miami, in company with Mr. Henshaw, when we observed two 
of these birds flying about a dead stub in the piny woods, which at this point came down to the 
shore uninterrupted by a hummock. This was in April, and they were evidently searching for 
a breeding place. In May, 1872, Mr. E. C. Greenwood found them nesting abundantly on the 
western bank of Indian Biver, near Fort Capron. This style of building appears to be usual 
with these birds while in the wilderness, but iu the more settled portions of the South, as well as 
in the North, they prefer boxes erected for their benefit. Indeed they invariably flock to places 
where such accommodations are provided for them and avoid all others. The offspring of those 
which have inhabited a certain locality will also return and take up their abode there, so that a 
number of apartments in one box will be constantly occupied. If other domiciles are erected 
quite near the same spot they will be inhabited, but it is extremely difficult to induce these birds 
