512 BULLETIN 17 9, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



food of this species. The adult male cannot be distinguished in the 

 field from the purple martin, but the abrupt contrast of the white 

 belly with the gray of the sides and chest is a good field mark for 

 the adult female. 



I have been unable to locate any eggs of this species but have no 

 reason to think that they differ in any respect from those of the purple 

 martin. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — During the breeding season the Cuban martin is confined 

 to Cuba and the Isles of Pines. The winter range is unknown, but in 

 spring migration it has been recorded from Jamaica and also from 

 Guatemala (Quirigua and Gualan). 



Casual records. — A specimen was taken at Cape Florida on May 18, 

 1858, and another (date?) at Clearwater, Fla. 



PROGNE CHALYBEA CHALYBEA (Gmelin) 

 GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN 



HABITS 



The gray-breasted martin, a well-marked species, enjoys a wide 

 distribution in Central America and northern South America, breed- 

 ing from the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas southward through 

 Mexico and Central America to Peru and northern Brazil. An allied 

 race occurs in Bolivia and southern Brazil. Throughout all this 

 wide range it seems to show a decided preference for the cities and 

 towns or the vicinity of human habitations, nesting in or on various 

 buildings, or in bird-boxes. Referring to El Salvador, Dickey and 

 vanRossem (1938) write: 



Gray-breasted martins have taken as kindly to civilization as have their 

 northern relatives, and during the breeding season are to be found chiefly 

 in the vicinity of towns and villages. There were, in 1912, 1925, 1926, and 

 1927, several colonies scattered about the city of San Salvador, where birds 

 could be seen entering openings under eaves of some of the taller buildings. 

 In that city also there was for several years, and probably still is, a populous 

 martin roost in the trees over the band-stand in Parque Barrios, where the 

 birds were in no wise disturbed by the nightly concerts. In rural districts 

 they congregate about the village churches, since such usually offer the most 

 secure nesting sites. They were also observed, at Santo Tomfis, to enter crev- 

 ices under the roofing tiles of low, one-story buildings. After the breeding 

 season there seems to be a general dispersal over the entire country within 

 the limits of the Arid Lower Tropical Zone. 



And G. Inness Hartley (Beebe, Hartley, and Howes, 1917) says: 

 "In all civilized districts from Rio northward this is the first bird to 

 greet the traveler. As the steamer warps up to the pier there are 



