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Belvidere, X. J., June 8, 1910. 



Mr. J. Warren Jacobs, 

 Waynesburg, Pa. 

 Dear Sir: 



Believing you would be interested in learning of our success with the No. 5 Purple 

 Martin house I purchased from you this spring, I may say that our most sanguine 

 expectations have been more than realized, as we now have about thirty Martins and 

 they are busily engaged in gathering nesting material. The box was erected on a pole 

 about 25 feet from the ground and the sparrows have given but little trouble. This 

 being our first year to get a Martin colony started here I am inclined to believe we have 

 been unusually successful. 



Our town is located on the Delaware river and I am inclined to think these birds 

 show a preference for localities along such streams. Portland, a town about 12 miles 

 north, for years has had quite a large colony. But perhaps the largest Martin colony 

 in this part of the state is at Blairstown, 16 miles northeast of us, this having 500 or 

 600 of them. 



We erected our bird-house on one of our prominent street corners and the lively 

 chatter of the birds and their very interesting habits make them objects of great interest 

 to all. I may say that for the first three weeks after putting up our house we were 

 beginning to get just a little discouraged because no birds appeared. Then one morning 

 a lone Martin, a male — as black as a crow, — came. He remained several days and 

 then disappeared for a day or two, when he returned with two females. A week or so 

 later, a dozen more came and then the others. 



With the young birds hatched this summer we confidently look forward to a greatly 

 increased colony next spring. 



Yours very truly, 



Elmer I. .Smith. 



LATER. — About fifteen pairs nested in the house the past summer; so you see 

 our first season's experiment was a success. Our bird-house is over a concrete pave- 

 ment, and we lost several young birds which fell down from their nests. ***** 

 Our fine colony, the past season, created much interest, and next spring we look 

 forward to a material increase in their numbers. 



Thanking you for your inquiry, and with best wishes to you in your work for bring- 

 ing these most interesting birds to new localities, I remain 



Yours truly, 



Elmer I. Smith. 



I submit below Mr. Samuel W. Lippencotts' letter in full. Here 

 is a ease which shows forcibly what may be expected if the English 

 Sparrow is allowed to fortify himself in a new house, before the arrival 

 of the Martins. However, had the Martins arrived earlier, Mr. Lip- 

 pencott could have succeeded in disposing of the Sparrows in time for 

 the Martins to nest. These Martins reaching his new house, late in 



