492 BULLETIN 17 9, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



After the males have arrived and located themselves, they await 

 the arrival of their consorts, and when they appear mating takes 

 place soon. This may vary by locality, those birds breeding in the 

 southern part of the range not mating so soon as those occupying 

 the northern sectors. The immature birds mate later than the adults 

 anywhere. Both sexes build the nest, and it is a most animated 

 sight when a colony is engaged in such construction. A great deal 

 of vocal effort accompanies it, and the gurgling chatter goes on 

 throughout most of the daylight hours. 



Nest material differs rather widely. In most parts of the South, it 

 is often confined simply to grass and leaves. In other localities, 

 twigs, feathers, mud, rags, paper, string, straw, and shreds of bark 

 have been noted. S. F. Rathbun (MS.) mentions a nest on the 

 watertower of a building in Seattle, Wash., which was "composed 

 entirely of bits of rubber insulation from electric wires; this was 

 lined with pieces of wood." Occasionally, a rim of dirt is placed 

 in front of the nest to keep the eggs from rolling out of the entrance. 

 F. W. Rapp (MS.) states that he has "seen some of these mounds 

 built up to 21/^ inches, while others make hardly any attempt to do 

 so." Both sexes incubate the eggs, the female, however, assuming 

 the greater part of this duty. The incubation period varies with 

 locality apparently, being variously noted as from 12 to 20 days. 



Forbush states that only one brood is raised in New England, 

 and this is the case throughout the greater part of the range. It 

 holds for the Carolinas certainly. Audubon (1840) insisted that 

 two broods were raised in his day and that in Louisiana three were 

 brought forth. In coastal South Carolina, though martins are abun- 

 dant by the end of the first week in March, nest-building does not 

 commence until the last of April, and it is usual that eggs are not 

 laid until the middle of May. Since the birds are not through until 

 early July, there would be time for only the one brood. 



The usual nesting box is placed upon a pole, the height of which is 

 commonly 15 or 20 feet. Many of the poles are hinged to facilitate 

 cleaning, painting, etc. The measurements recommended are: Indi- 

 vidual compartments, about 8 by 8 inches; entrance, about 2 inches 

 in diameter and IV2 inches above the floor. The house is placed in 

 fairly open situations. On erection in spring it is well to put up the 

 house as the martins arrive ; otherwise it gives English sparrows and 

 starlings opportunity to become established therein. Forbush (1929) 

 gives an instance of a friend of his erecting the house as the martins 

 arrived, and "they were so glad to see it that they could not wait 

 until it was up. Wliile it was going up they flew around it, singing 

 and fluttering about it, and when it was half-way up, they all 

 alighted upon it and rode up with it." 



