28 



Some 1908 Observations and Studies on the 

 Martins at Waynesburg, Pa. 



The first Purple Martin to reach my premises in the 

 spring of 1903 arrived during the forenoon of March 27. 



The weather had been fine for a week, and now real 

 spring temperature was advancing vegetation, and spurring 

 northward the hordes of migratory birds. By the 24th of 

 April peach and plum trees were shedding their matured 

 bloom, and apple bloom was nearly at full height. The air 

 was laden with perfume of lilacs, which were beginning to 

 burst forth in lavender hues. Scarcely any frost was seen 

 during the past four weeks, and no damage was done by it. 



Many Martins had reached this vicinity by this date. 

 At my place the birds increased from twenty-five on the 

 22nd to thirty-six on the 23rd and forty on the 24th. 



Inquiry and investigation at other bird-houses found 

 about full colonies. 



On the 26th, four pairs were building nests in house No. 

 4, and one pair in house No. 5, at my own colonies. 



About sixty birds were at my boxes on the 27th, and 

 several pairs were carrying in nest material. Vegetation 

 everywhere was far advanced, and forests presented as 

 green appearance as is usual in this latitude two weeks later. 

 On this date there was a change in the condition of weather 

 from clear and warm to cloudy, chilly days, and on May 1st 

 I began to see a decrease in the number of birds at my 

 boxes until the morning of the sixth, when only nine re- 

 mained. On this date the temperature became more favor- 

 able to the Martins, sixteen of which were noted at my 

 houses about one o'clock p. m. At five o'clock a thunder 

 storm threatened and suddenly all of my birds came to their 

 respective boxes in a compact flock. 



Again the temperature fell and my birds began to de- 

 crease, until May 10th, when their number had dwindled 

 to eighteen. On this date, however, there was a return to 

 typical May weather and the birds were absent all day. 



