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photograph of the house with one Martin seated on the top of it. I wasn't able to find 

 the Martin but believe it is there. I am happy to say they came about the middle of 

 April. I did not put down the exact date, for which I am sorry. Just two or three 

 came at first and gradually the number increased until shortly after there were seven 

 nests thoroughly completed, perhaps with eggs in, and two that 'were being made. The 

 sparrows immediately took possession of one part of the west side and made their nests 

 in two of the compartments, evidently judging they were put up for them as well as the 

 Martins, and the latter did not seem to mind them very much, although my niece saw 

 a sparrow grab a Martin by his bill as it was quietly sitting on the nest. I have had the 

 sparrows' nests taken out as soon as they had laid two or three eggs. Finally the last one 

 had five eggs in when I had it taken down and they became discouraged and did not 

 trouble to build any more. 



The man who attended to that part of the business thought he would look into the 

 Martin nests the last time he went up for the sparrows; just glance in and see if things 

 were all right, and he found in one of the nests a dead Martin, a male, which was still 

 warm, had no mark on it whatever to show the cause of its death, and it is a perfect 

 mystery unless it is possible that the sparrow may have got hold of the bill again and 

 smothered it, at any rate, his death is a fact, — perhaps you can solve it. 



Of course it was taken out of the nest and the next day the birds seemed to be 

 having a great time over something, chattering away, flying around and around much 

 disturbed, but they finally settled down. I am watching impatiently to see when the 

 young Martins appear. Of course I do not like to interfere with them oftener than 

 necessary to see what is going on in their compartments, and as long as the sparrows 

 have decided to let them alone it isn't necessary to examine the nests. It has been a 

 great delight to have them. I have always wanted them but the house I put up for 

 them formerly, which I had made by a carpenter, did not seem to suit them and they 

 never came. I selected the place very carefully, partly in the shade but still away from 

 the brandies of trees, and it is very delightful to hear their liquid notes as they fly back 

 and forth or chatter to each other as they are quietly standing on their little balcon- 

 ies. I wondered if I put up another house some little distance away in another part 

 of the grounds whether another family would come. Would you advise my put- 

 ting another one up? I would like very much to have any little pamphlet that you 

 have published in regard to birds, and if you will send me what you have and let me 

 know the price I will be glad to forward the amount. I have informed a number of my 

 friends about the houses you make and several of them intend to get them for next year. 



Later — July 21st. I have just returned from a two weeks visit and my gardener 

 tells me that while I was away my man got up to the nests and found only three left 

 with birds in of the seven and two partly built ones, the other four had been taken 

 clean out of the little house as if regular house cleaning was going on, not a trace of the 

 nests are left, neither was there any of them left on the ground at the foot of the pole* 



Very cordially yours, 



(Mrs.) Eliza W. Osborne. 



♦Nothing unusual to find two or three old birds dead during the summer, where a 

 colony consists of several pairs. 



The mystery of the disappearance of the nests, mentioned by Mrs. Osborne, is not 



