416 LAND BIRDS 
California Breeding Range: Chiefly in Transition zone, from latitude 40° 
southward. 
Breeding Season: June. 
Nest: Generally placed in eaves and cornices of buildings, or in boxes 
specially prepared for them; composed ofa large variety of materials, 
— leaves, twigs, straws, string, rags, etc. 
Eggs: 4 to 5; pure glossy white. Size 0.98 X 0.73. 
THE Western Martin is in some ways less progressive 
than his Eastern relative, the purple martin, for he still 
builds largely in hollow trees. Instead of the familiar 
friend we know as circling over our lawns, nesting in 
bird boxes, or in holes under the house cornice, and so 
tame that we may lift the mother from her nestlings 
without frightening her, we find in the Western species 
a forest-loving bird. Occasionally these Martins are 
abundant about a town or farm building, but it is usually 
because some especial pains have been taken to attract 
them, and often because the first pair of birds were 
taken when young and have become domesticated. They 
are the same care-free, merry chatterers as the purple 
martin, circling on tireless wings throughout the swarms 
of insects in the air, turning, darting, and rising with 
marvellous grace and swiftness. 
Besides small insects they are fond of beetles and 
butterflies, and doubtless they rid the farmer of many 
injurious pests wherever the birds can be induced to 
colonize. Under whatever circumstances they are found 
they are sociable little birds among themselves, never 
nesting in single pairs, and when together keeping up a 
sweet twittering song. 
One looks at the nestling and at the egg in amaze- 
“ment that so much bird could ever have come from so 
