32 



Bird Houses Erected in Anticipation of Martins. 



It must be understood that the Martin is adapted to the 

 climatic conditions of nearly the whole of the United States 

 and Canada, from the Gulf States to Ontario, west to the 

 Rockies. (See foot note, page 23, for exceptions). Bird houses 

 erected anywhere within this region are likely to be occupied 

 by Martins. Persons who try this experiment, and are re- 

 warded by the birds taking possession, have much to con- 

 gratulate themselves for. All the labor, care, expense and 

 possibly also sacrifice of bird life, in rearing the birds by 

 hand, is thus avoided, and the foundation for a permanent 

 colony laid. 



The interest of the whole community is enveloped in 

 such an experiment; for in establishing a colony with only 

 three or four pairs, is transplanted the seed which will, in 

 a very few years, spread Martin progeny to many other 

 houses erected for them, thus fixing a permanent foot-hold 

 which will last as long as the birds are provided with suita- 

 ble nesting-boxes and given proper protection. 



Among my correspondents are several who have secur- 

 ed the birds by simply putting up a suitable house. 



Much space would be taken describing the successes and 

 failures of their experiments, so I selected two cases which 

 resulted most favorably. 



In April 1908, Dr. Edmund De Witt of Lawrenceville, 

 N. J., wrote me for information on constructing a house for 

 Martins. Although late in the season to start a house my 

 correspondent rushed a sixteen room structure to completion 

 and was rewarded by having four pairs of Martins to take 

 possession. 



Owing to the lateness of the season Mr. De Witt says, 

 "Only one pair brought out any young." The people of the 

 vicinity were greatly interested, very few of them having 

 any knowledge of such birds. 



It is safe to say the Doctor will see a return of the birds 

 in the spring, and the community of Lawrenceville will thus 

 enjoy the fruits of his efforts. 



