21 



bathing fountain with running water might help to induce them 

 to settle where other water is absent. A good martin box may 

 be made of any strong barrel (Fig. 28), and I have seen such 

 boxes occupied for many years by these birds. The bottom of 

 each entrance hole may be level with the floor of its compart- 

 ment, to facilitate cleaning out and to allow any water that may 

 drive in to run out again, but it is well to have a gallery or 

 veranda under the upper openings and overhanging the lower. 

 This and the projecting eaves should shed most of the rain. 



Fig. 29. — Succes.sful soap box martin colony of 

 three houses. 



The entrance holes may be made 2j inches in diameter if 

 square, or 2^ inches if round. 



Mr. J. Warren Jacobs of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, who 

 probably has had more experience in building martin houses 

 than any one else now living, recommends making each apart- 

 ment 6 inches square and 7 inches high. Any box about this 

 size may be used for the apartments, and all may be backed 

 by a square box running up the center of the barrel into which 

 a square pole will fit. The barrel may be attached to the pole 

 by two angle irons and roofed with zinc. Every martin house 

 should be well painted outside but not inside, with two or three 

 coats of good white or light-colored paint. Dark-colored houses 

 are very hot in sunny weather. Care is taken not to let the 



