23 



* Distribution. There are only a few sections of Penn- 

 sylvania where the Martin cannot thrive — I refer to the 

 higher mountain ranges. The bird really belongs to, or is 

 most abundant in the Carolinian Life Zone, sections of 

 which touch our State on the southeastern and southwestern 

 corners, but it is also adapted to and is common in the Tran- 

 sition or Alleghenian Life Zone, which covers most of this 

 Commonwealth. The higher mountain ranges are in the 



*The range of the martins extends through thewiiole of Temperate and 

 Tropical America, including the West Indies. Originally these birds nest- 

 ed in hollow trees — and possibly also in nooks and chinks about cliffs — but 

 in more modern times some of the species have evolved from their prim- 

 itive method to artificial nesting-boxes supplied by mankind, and adorn- 

 ing the premises near his habitation. The eggs of all the species of this 

 genus are pure white. 



In the United States and Southern Canada, one species — Purple Martin 

 (Pro£ne subis)—is generally distributed in the East, and the geographical 

 variation, Western Martin (Progne subis hesperia) west of the Rockies. 

 The latter variety, however, has not progressed far from the original in- 

 stinct of nesting in hollow trees. A few have been recorded as nesting 

 about buildings, old missions and chapels. 



We now narrow down to the typical species — PUEPLE MARTIN — in- 

 habiting eastern United States and Canada. 



Summer Range. Breeding Season. — Temperate North America, except 

 the Pacific Coast, breeding abundantly throughout all the country north to 

 Maine, west through southern Ontario to Montana. North of this line which is 

 about 45° N. Lat. in the East and 48° N Lat. in the West, it rapidly grows 

 scarce; breeding records more or less regular have been reported from Nova 

 Scotia, New Brunswick, north-west Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 

 Few records as far west as Utah and fewer from Idaho appear, but the species 

 is quite rare west of eastern Wyoming and eastern Colorado, except in very 

 restricted localities not affected by the mountainous region. Southward 

 its breeding range extends into the table lands of Mexico. 



Winter Range: — Mexico and West Indies to Venezuela and Brazil and 

 rarely straggling southward. This species does not breed anywhere within 

 the limits of its winter range. 



Migration: — In all the region within the boundaries described these birds 

 wander from their chosen breeding grounds to and from their winter retreats 

 under the tropical sun. During this semi-annual migration, individuals may 

 be attracted to suitable boxes put up for their use in sections of country where 

 they are not now encouraged. 

 December, 1908. 



