PuRrLE Martins at St. Marks, Florida 73 



alert active movements were noticed. They had departed 

 at 7:30 a. m. 



A new box had been erected near the ohl one that had 

 so long served the birds of this district. On February 24 

 three birds came to this old box. They were seen first at 

 7 :00 a. m. On the 25th three birds were yet there. A fine 

 rain was falling, temperature about 50°, and at 11:00 a. 

 m. there were twelve martins at the old box; all were on 

 the ledges and roof, the frame of the house barely cling- 

 ing together. At 9:00 a. m. a steady rain began which 

 lasted all day. About 1 :00 p. m. six male and six female 

 martins came to my box, probably the same birds seen 

 earlier in the day at the old box. These birds remained 

 on the outside of my box in the continued rain until about 

 4:00 p. m., when they flew to the new box near the old de- 

 cayed one, but did not enter. 



February 26, twelve martins were about all day. They 

 kept close to the old house for the most part but visited 

 the new nearby box and were at my gourds. Cold all day, 

 but no rain. 



February 27, the old box was dismantled late j^ester- 

 day, but the birds continued flying about the bare pole. 

 Some were seen to enter the new box, which is a four-hole 

 freshly painted one. Eighteen birds were on the cross- 

 arms and roof of the house at my pole. They seemed much 

 exhausted, sitting almost motionless for a half-hour at a 

 time. 



February 28, another cold rain from the northwest. 

 Four male and three female martins at my gourd-pole, all 

 facing the storm but remained outside. 



March 3, but three pairs of birds seen about the vil- 

 lage. All of these located at the Warren box — the one sup- 

 planting the demolished box. A pair of English sparrows 

 quarrel for a share in this shelter. Cold and frost March 

 1. Ice on 2d, with cold wind following, and frost on 3d. 

 A cool reception for exhausted travelers from the tropics! 



March 20. Since the 3rd of March we have had but 



