an example from Bahia in Brazil shows tho oharactoristic hoary forehead and whitish
sides of neck which are among the chief features of F. hesperia. A male in the
second year from Washington, killed on the 30tli of May (Henshaw oollection), also
closely approaches P . hesperia in the ahovo-namod particulars. Both these specimens,
however, are true P . purpurea, as they are not so white on the throat, aro more din«é
on the hrcast and ahdomcn, and have tho long under tail-coverts very distinctly centred
with hrown ; this last character seems to he a very well-marked one for distinguishing
P . purpurea. ° ®
Besides the typical specimens from the Sierra de la Laguna, Mr. Brewster says that
ho has seen others in Mr. Batchelder’s collection from the Ojai Valley, in California and
Mr. Xantus’s birds from Cape St. Lucas arc also P. Msperia, as is shown hy a specimen
in the British Museum.
It is extremely difficult for us to determine the exact range of this western race of
Purple Martin owing to lack of specimens, but we have some doubts whether the
distinctive characters of P . hesperia will be upheld by future observers. Judging from tho
small series at our disposal, P. purpurea is at certain .seasons very similar to P . hesperia,
and the latter can he nothing hut a western race, which, indeed, is all the status that
Mr. Brewster claims for it. The British Museum possesses a young male from Big
Trees, obtained by Mr. Forrer, whicli is certainly referable to P. hesperia, but amongst
the series in the Museum there are several hirds which seem to connect the two races
entirely.
Mr. L. Belding, in his paper on the Birds of the Pacific District, claims for the
western race a range roaeliing even into British Columbia, but we believe that the
Purple Martin from several of his more northern localities must be P. purpurea. This,
however, is a question whicli the American ornithologists alone can settle. We suhjoié
Mr. Belding’s note ;—
“ A dozen or more of both sexes were temporarily sojourning at San Diego, April 28,
during a cool rain-storm. It does not appear to breed on the coast about Sau Dic-'o
( i . P.).
“ PoAvay, tAv-elve miles from the coast. First seen May 1,188-1, a fcAv only ; common
in the spring of 1883 [Blaisdell).
“ Little Santa Maria Valley, April 1, 1881, one only {Emerson).
“ Julian, April 1, 1881 (A; S. Goss).
“ San Bernardino. Rare summer resident in the mountains ; rare migrant in the
Valley {F. Stephens).
“ Santa Cruz, common [Joseph SJcirm).
“ San José. First seen May 3, 1881, two or three ; they did not remain. Arrived
pril 0, 1885 {A. L. Farhhuvst).
“ Contra Costa County. Rare summer resident ( W. E. Bryant).
“ Olema. First seen May 8, 1881; breeds {A. M. Inyersoll).
‘^Stockton. Common summer resident here and in many localities in Central
California beloAV fir-forest, where it is very rare {L. B.).
“Marysville. Arrive in March {W. F. Feacoch; Frank Manning).
“ Chico. First seen May 22,1881 ( W. Proud).
“ I never saw this bird in ‘Washington Territory (Cooper).
“ I obtained at Fort Steilacoom a specimen of Progne (Suckley).
“ Colonies encountered at numerous localities among the pine-woods of the mountains,
where they are quite local (Uenshaio).
“ Rare, east of the Sierra Nevada. In Carson it was common, while in Virginia City
hut a single individual AA-as seen June 18, 1868 (liidgway).
“ Stockton, March, common (J. J. Snyder)
“ Murphys, March and April (J. P . Snyder).
“ Sebastopol. First seen in April; rare; breeds (F. R . Holmes).
“ Marysville, March ; common and breeds ( IV. F. Peacock).
“ Sierra Valley, June 18-21, common, breeding ; seA'eral little Martin-houses
recently erected for their u se ; not knoAvn to do so elscAvhere on the Pacific coast.
“ British Columbia. Summer resident east of Cascades (J. Fannin).
“ Camp Harney. One of the most abundant summer residents (Bendire).
“ Hoffman. Usually abundant in the vicinity of rivers, streams, and even large
springs.
“ Ridgway. Noticed along every portion of our route across the Great Basin,
especially in the vicinity of rivers or lakes, or at settlements Avhether great or small.
“ Cooper, 1870. In June I saAv a flock of these hirds busily catching young grass-
lioppers on the dry hillside, Aviiere these insects were swarming.
“ Salt Spring Valley (Calaveras County). Sept. 13, a fcAv about the reservoir (L. B)."
In the account of the hirds obtained during the Death Valley Expedition, Dr. A. K.
Fisher writes:—“ A colony of Martins was found breeding at Old Fort Tcjou, in tlio
Canada do las Uras, California, June 28, 1891, by Dr. Merriam and Mr. Palmer. They
Avere nesting in AVoodpeckers’ holes in large oaks in front of the old fort, Avliere three
were killed. Mr. Belding noted the species at Crocker’s, 21 miles north-AA'Cst of tho
Yosemite Valley, in May.”
Dr. Cooper has given the folloAving interesting note on the Purple Martin in liis
‘ Ornithology of California,’ and it no doubt refers principally to P. hesperia:—“ I have
not seen the beautiful and sociable Martins in the Colorado Valley, nor ohser\®d them
along the coast earlier than April 20th, A\-hcii they were migrating through San
Francisco, perching for a few hours on lofty flag-staffs during the Avarni morning, but
disappearing Avhen the sea breeze began to hloAV. They resort chiefly to the Avarm
valleys of the interior, nesting in holes of largo trees from near San Diego to Puget’s
Sound. I also found them nesting on the summits of the Coast Range, in company Avitli
the Ilirundo thalassina aud H. bicolor, hut preferring the dead tops of the loftiest rod
woods for their domiciles. They are numerous at Sacramento in summer, and probably
through most of the Sieri-a Nevada, but retire to the south in August.
“ They haA® not yet attracted so much attention among our movable and busy people
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