12 



*0n the Construction of Houses for the Purple 



/Martin. 



It is a task for me to give plans and describe the man- 

 ner of constructing houses for Purple Martins. This is not 

 because I have lacked experience in building these houses, 

 but because in making a score or more of Martin homes I 

 have followed no set plan or rule, except to have the rooms 

 a certain size, the entrances to the same of proper dimen- 

 sions, and the whole, when finished, to have the appearance 

 of a miniature residence or other building. 



Before commencing a bird-house, I had firmly fixed 

 in my mind about what I wanted to do, and could fairly well 

 picture how the house would look when completed. With 

 my head for a guide, and a well-equipped kit of wood- 

 working tools, I went to work on a house, which, when 

 completed, was a well- proportioned, miniature building, 

 bearing close inspection by architectural critics. 



The first Martin house I built contained rooms 6 inches 

 square and 7 inches high, with entrances 2| inches square 1 

 inch above the floor. The birds were so well pleased with this 

 box that I have followed this rule in making all others. Of 

 course, the model of some of the houses I have made com- 

 pelled me to vary in the dimensions of some of the rooms, 

 but in nearly all cases the capacity was about the same: — 

 if the width of a room was an inch less than the regular 

 size the depth was greater. 



If you wish to build a Martin house and are fearful that 

 you cannot devise and carry out a neat, well proportioned, min- 

 iature residence, make a plain box of twelve rooms, paint it 



*Published in "Bird Lore" for January-February, 1905; Vol. VII, No.l. 

 The plates used in illustrating the article were made from drawings and 

 photos furnished by the Author. The editor, Mr. Frank M. Chapman, very 

 kindly presented the plates to the Author with "Bird Lore's" compliments. 



