160 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



as we are told by Dr. W. B. Barrows in his report upon the 

 English Sparrow, the sparrows are successful in driving 

 the Martins away only half of the time, that would fully 

 account for the decrease in numbers. There can be little 

 question that at least a part of the decrease must be attrib- 

 uted to the sparrow. 



It should not be necessary to state that the food of the 

 Purple Martin consists largely of flying insects. During 

 the time the young are fed the old birds are driven to search 

 the ground as well as the air for grasshoppers and other 

 large insects to appease the appetite of the always hungry 

 young ones. Their services to mankind will only be appre- 

 ciated when they are gone and nothing takes their place 

 as destroyers of the insects which cause us so great annoy- 

 ance. 



The Martin not infrequently reaches our southern border 

 during the second week in March, and the lake shore dur- 

 ing the third week. It moves south again about 

 September 15. Rev. Mr. Henninger reports an albino at 

 South Webster, Scioto county, March 29, 1895. 



221. (612.) PETROCHELIDON LUNIFRONS (Say.). 77. 

 Cliff Swallow. 



Synonyms: Hirundo fulva, H. lunifrons. 



Eave Swallow, Crescent Swallow, Mud Swallow, Mud Daub- 

 er, Square-tailed Barn Swallow, White-fronted Swallow, 

 Rocky Mountain Swallow, Republican. 

 Bonaparte, I, 1825, 65. 



The Cliff Swallow nests in colonies, and is therefore 

 common and may be abundant in a few places. It is hardly 

 common in Lorain county. There is no record of a colony 

 nesting away from human habitations in Ohio since its set- 

 tlement by civilized people. Their favorite nesting-place is 

 under the eaves of a barn or other similar building, often in 

 companies of several hundred, where the building affords 

 enough room. The flask-shaped mud nests are familiar to 

 every farm boy. 



Like the other swallows, the Cliff Swallow feeds upon 



