10 "^ BULLETIN 4 and 5 



of the martin is to fly with a downward swoop and then rise 

 to a high altitude. 



Three minutes later another martin, also a mae, left the 

 house with the same speed and lack of ceremony. 



OTHER MARTIN COLONIES. 



BY W. C. HORTON. 



The questions I asked last year through the Bulletin about 

 the Purple Martin were answered very satisfactorily. I received 

 a report from Mr. C. D. Howe, saying there was a colony at 

 Essex Junction and Burlington. 



Mrs. Alice S. Brown of Starksboro reported a colony in 

 that town, Ferrisburgh, Middlebury, North Hero, and Burling- 

 ton. Nelly Hart Woodworth reported two colonies at St. Al- 

 bans. Miss Susan E. Clark of St. Johnsbury reported a colony 

 at Lyndonville. 



From this information, I can plainly see that nearly all the 

 Purple Martins are west of the Green Mountains in Vermont, 

 only one colony being reported from the east side. This also 

 shows that the martin migration northward to their summer 

 home is undoubtedly up the west side of the mountains. If this 

 is the fact I presume none will migrate this side of the state un- 

 til more colonies are established east of the mountain range. I 

 am of the opinion that the colony in Lyndonville crossed over 

 there from some of the colonies on the west side of the northern 

 part of the state. 



I am informed that there were several colonies of Purple 

 Martins nesting last summer in New England, by which it appears 

 that they are increasing and may reach their normal number 

 again, as before the great loss of martins in the year of 1903. 



I have reports of colonies at Augusta, Oakdale, Smithfield 

 Belgrade and other towns in Kennebec County, Maine. Also in 

 Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, and in the south- 

 ern part of New Hampshire, the martins are returning slowly, 

 taking up the old abandoned homes. 



I again wish to renew my request as given in the last Bul- 

 letin, restricting reports to the east side of the state. Anyone 

 who knows of a nesting colony of Purple Martins on the east 

 side of the state will please report the same to the secretary of 

 the Bird Club or to myself. 



