MARTIN. 293 
PROGNE suBis Linneeus. 
Wurple Martin. 
Hirundo purpurea, KIRTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Suarv., 183%, 162.—ReEapD, Proc. Phila. Acad. 
Nat. Sci., vi, 1853, 395. ; 
Hirundo purpurea, KIRKPATRICK, Ohio Farmer, vili, 1859, 299.—WHEATON, Obio Agric. 
Rep. for 1860, 364; Reprint, 1861, 6; Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 
565; Reprint, 1875, 5.—LANGDON, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 7. 
Progne subis, BAIRD, BREWER and RipGway, N. A. Birds, i, 1874, 332.—Lane@pon, Re- 
vised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 173; Reprint, 7. 
Blue Martin, BALLOU, Field and Forest, iii, 1878,.136. 
Hirundo subis, LINNZUS, Syst. Nat., 1, 1758, 192. 
Hirundo purpurea, LINNAUS, Syst. Nat., 1766, 344. 
Progne purpurea, BOLE, Isis, 1826, 971. 
Progne subis, BAIRD, Rev. Am. Birds, 1865, 274. 
Lustrous blue black. The female and young are much dulier above, aud more or less 
white below, streaked with gray. Length 7 or more; wing nearly 6; tail 34, simply 
forked, 
Habitat, North America to within Arctic Circle. Bermudas. Accidental in Murope. 
Abundant summer resident. Breeds. Arrives about April Ist, and 
remains until September. 
The Martin is so nearly universally an inhabitant of towns and cities 
that it is difficult to imagine how it found a home before the presence of 
man afforded asuitable nesting place. Yet some of these birds still adhere 
to their ancient customs, and rear their young in natural cavities of 
trees and deserted holes of Woodpeckers, almost within the limits of the 
eity of Columbus. I have found them nesting in Wocdpecker’s deserted 
nests in a tall oak at the Columbus Arsenal, and in the cavities of the 
dead limbs of an elm standing on the bank of the Scioto within the 
present city limits, and in knot-holes of a walnut tree a few hundred 
yards south of the last named situation. Whether these were penal 
colonies, or simply ‘old fogies,” could not be determin:d, but the young, 
as they cautiously and painfully crept from their holes to a trembling 
foothold on the dead limbs, strongly appealed to my sympathy. 
Such are their usual nesting places when no human dwellings afford a 
better choice, and for want of trees they sometimes nest in crevices of 
rocks. In towns and cities they prefer to nest in Martin boxes or “bird 
houses” erected for their especial use, and in default of these any shel- 
tered place about a building will do, though the higher the better. 
The nest is loosely constructed of leaves, straw, bits of string and paper, 
lined with feathers. The eggs are pure white, and measure .94 by .79. 
After the breeding season is over, these birds congregate towards night 
in large flocks, and having selected a suitable cornice on some high build- 
ing, make preparations for spending the night. The retiring ceremony 
