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Wilson, Alexander, 1766-1813. / American ornithology; or The natural history of the birds of the United States
(1828)

Genus 46. Hirundo. Swallow. Species 1. H. purpurea. Purple martin,   pp. [406]-411


Page [406]


GENUS 46. HIRUNDO. SWALLOW.
           SPECIES 1. H. PURPUREd.
                  PUJRPLE MARTIN.
    [Plate XXXIX.-Fig. 1, Male.-Fig. 2, Female.J
LATH. Syn. IV, p. 57-4, 21. Ibid. iv, p. i75,23.-(CATESB. Car. 1, 51
  -.drct. Zool. ii, .No. 333. --Hirondelle blea(ele la Caroline,
  BUFF. VI, p. 674. Pl. Enl. 722.-Le Martinet couleur de p upre,
  BUFF. vI, p. 676.-ruR -r Syst. 629.-EDAW. I 20.-HirJundo
  subis, LATH. IV, P. 5-5-24.--PkA.E's Muiseuwn, X0V. , 645,
  7646.*
  THIS well known bird is a general inhabitant of the United
States, and a particular favourite wherever he takes up his
abode. I never met with more than one man who disliked the
Martins and would not permit them to settle about his house. This
was a penurious close-fisted German, who hated them because,
as he said, " they eat his peas. " I told him he must certainly
be
mistaken, as I never knew an instance of Martins eating peas;
but he replied with coolness that he had many times seen them
himself "' blaying near the hife, and going schtuip, schnap," by
which I understood that it was his bees that had been the suf-
ferers; and the charge could not be denied.
  This sociable and half domesticated bird arrives in the south-
ern frontiers of the United States late in February or early in
March; reaches Pennsylvania about the first of April, and ex-
tends his migrations as far north as the country round Hudson's
Bay, where he is first seen in May, and disappears in August:
DWe add the following syno1)mrnes:-!Jirundo pirpurea, fmINN. SySt. r, p.
341.
-GM.EL. Syst. 1, s. 102O.-Ifiridlo c'rul1a, Vi }il, Oic (le  Sp Pm h  p)!
)5,
mnale~ pI 27, fninate.


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