87 



FIGURE 19 



Style 7, nineteen room house of Mrs. W. H. Gunther, Babylon, Long 



Island, N. Y. 



Easton, Md., August 19, 1910. 



Mr. J. Warren Jacobs, 

 Waynesburg, Pa. 

 My dear Sir-: 



Replying to your favor of recent date will say that my attempt to attract a colony 

 of the Purple Martin was successful, but unfortunately was attended in the end with 

 something of a tragedy. 



The beautiful house I ordered of you was erected in April, on a pole, about 18 feet 

 from the ground, and was watched with much interest. Two pairs of English Sparrows 

 took early possession and these drove away several pairs of Bluebirds that a few days 

 later made an attempt to occupy rooms in the house. On May 20th three pairs of 

 Martins came and inspected the house, and later in the day returned with others. May 

 30th twelve Martins were counted on or about the house and several were observed to 

 be carrying nesting material. Fearing that I might disturb or alarm the Martins I 

 made no examination of the nests. Two young birds were observed to leave the house 

 on July 20. Others might have come out earlier and escaped my notice. On July 26 



