cabins of the southern negroes. In Washington tho columns of the public buildings,
and the eaves and sheltered portions of tho piazzas, afford a convenient protection to
large numbers around the Patent Office and the Post Office buildings. The abundance of
this species varies in different parts of the country, from causes not always apparent. In
the vicinity of Boston it is quite unusual, tliough said to have been forty years since
quite common. There its place is taken by tlie R. Ucolor, ivhioh occupies almost
exclusively the Martin-houses, and very rarely builds in liollow trees.
“ Sir John Eichardsoii states that it arrives ivithin the Arctic Circle earlier than
any otlier of its family. It made its first appearance at Great Bear Lake as early as the
17th of May, when the ground was covered witli snow, aud tho rivers and lakes were all
ice-bound.
“ In the Soutliern States it is said to raise three broods in a season; in its more
northern distribution it raises but one. Their early migrations expose the Martins to
severe exposure and suffering from changes of weather, in wliicll large numbers have
been known to perish. An occurrence of this kind is said to have taken place in Eastern
Massachusetts, where nearly all the birds of this species wore destroyed, and where to
this day their places have never been supplied.
“ Within its selected compartment the Martin prepares a loose and irregular nest.
This is composed of various materials, such as fine dry leaves, straws, stems of grasses,
fine twigs, hits of string, rags, &c. These are carelessly thrown together, and the whole
is usually warmly lined with feathers or other soft materials. This nest is occupied year
after year by tho same pair, hut after each new brood tho nest is thoroughly repaired,
and often increased in size by the accumulation of new materials.
“ The Martins do not winter in the United States, but enter the extreme soutliern
portions early in Pebriiary. Audubon states that they arrive often in prodigious Hooks.
On the Ohio their advent is about the I6tli of Marcli, aud in Missouri, Ohio, aud Pennsylvania
about the 10th of April. About Boston their appearance is from tlie 25th of
April to the middle of May. Mr. Audubon states they all return to the Southern States
about the 20th of August, but tliis is hardly correct. Their departure varies very mueh
with the season. In the fall of 1870 they were to be found in large flocks, slowly moving
southward, but often remaining several days at a time at the same place, and then proceeding
to thoir next halt. Their favourite places for sucli spots are usually a high and
uninhabited hillside near the sea.
“ The Martin is a bold and courageous bird, prompt to meet and repel dangers,
especially wlion threatened by winged enemies, never hesitating to attack and drive them
away from its neighbourhood. It is therefore a valuable protection to the barnyard.
Its food is the larger kind of insects, especially beetles, iu destroying wliich it does good
service to the husbandman. The song of the Martin is a succession of twitters, which,
without being musical, are far from being unpleasant; they begin with the earliest
dawn, and during the earlier periods of incubation are almost incessantly repeated.
The eggs of the Purple Martin measure *94 of an inch in length by *79 in breadth.
They are of an oblong-oval shape, are pointed one end, are of an uniform creamy-Avhite,
and are never spotted. They are quite uniform in size and shape. Eggs from Florida
are proportionally smaller than those from Northern States.”
Dr. Hatch’s notes from Minnesota arc as follows:—“ These birds soon build their
nests in various places, but manifest a strong preference to have them near dwellings.
Their readiness to occupy boxes, artificial houses placed on poles, on the eaves of outhouses,
is a matter of the commonest observation, doubtless from no sentiment toward
our species, but because our habits aud our habitations attract the larger quantities of
insects upon which they feed; yet, like the Chimney-Swallow, they frequent tbo forests,
and employ holes in old dead trees in many places familiar to me. They habitually
enter the State at the southern border early in April, as Dr. Hvoslcf of Lanesboro’ has
the 3rd of that month in bis record for several years in succession. He also obserA’cd
the circumstances of their disappearing again for a few days—once eleven—and then
invariably remaining upon theii* return. The nest consists of fine straw, hay, dried
leaves, and feathers which are employed to line it. They lay four pure white eggs, that
are almost indistinguishable from those of the ■\Vhite.bellicd Swallow. The first brood
is brought out by the lOtli of June and another one late in Jxily.
“ As a fighter, the courage of this bird has b u t one approximation, and that is the
Kingbird. CroAVs, Ravens, Hawks, and Eagles are instantly jmt to flight by them, and,
in the Avords of 'VVilson, ‘ so well known is this to the lesser birds, th a t as soon as they
hear the Martin’s voice engaged in fight, all is alarm and consternation. To observe
Avith what spirit and audacity this bird dives and sweeps upon and around the Hawk,
or the Eagle, is astomshing. He also bestOAV's an occasional bastinadoing on the Kingbird,
Avhen he finds him too near his premises, though he will a t any time instantly co-opcratc
Avith him in attacking the common enemy.’ The value of the Purple Martin to the
general or the special agriculturist is so well understood and so universally accepted on
account of thoir destruction of noxious insects, that, for an exception, no argument is
needed AA'ith that class of producers to defend it.”
For the following account Ave are indebted to the kindness of our friend Mr. Ernest
Tliompsom:—“ Its nest is usually placed in situations similar to those selected by the
Wliitc-breasted SAA'allow, a favourite location being the joist-lioles left iu the end of a
house, when it is intended th a t a t some future period another building Avill be conjoined.
The material of the nest proper is, as in most of the SAvallows, straAV and the large curling
feathers from tlic ihmks of Geese or other barn-fowd.
“ My friend Mr. C. W. Nash communicates some interesting observations on this
species, as folloAvs ‘ I take the following extract from an unpublished paper of mine
on this bird, written in 1878: From my notes ou migration kept from the year 1873 I
find that this bird usually arrives in the Province of Ontario about the middle of April,
tho earliest date I have recorded being April the loth and the latest May 4th, dependent