Some Notes on Martin Colonies 129 



disport themselves with remarkable ease and grace. They usually leave for 

 other climes about September i, but they sometimes get away earlier. And 

 that long flight may be from New England to Brazil — but what is that to 

 these free-lances of the air ! 



There seems to be a rather general impression that Martins are very partic- 

 ular as to the size of their quarters, and especially as to the size of the openings 

 through which they are to come and go. There are reasons why this is partly 

 true; there are reasons, too, why it is true only in part. The habits of animals 

 and birds are controlled largely by instincts that lead them to seek dark corners 

 in inaccessible places, mere existence being the first consideration, comfort and 

 convenience not having much part in the matter. Wild creatures can exist under 

 most uncomfortable conditions, but they should not be forced to do so. If we 

 set out to attract the birds and offer artificial homes as inducements, we should 

 also consider their comfort and happiness, as well as their safety, even if in so 

 doing we run counter to some of their ways. Shame on the bird-lover who would 

 inveigle a pair of Wrens into a tomato can, only to be roasted, with their little 

 ones, in the broiling sun of the long summer days ! 



The dimensions of our smaller boxes are, approximately, 15 x 9^ x 1 1 inches. 

 This gives the lower apartments about 6 x 8>^ inches, with height of 5 inches. 

 The slanting roof, which has a break on each side for ventilation, gives the 

 upper apartments the advantage of greater height. The openings are 2 x 2 

 inches, the height being increased by slight arch, with perches about i>^ inches 

 from the box. An extra perch, much liked by the birds, is on slender uprights 

 and about 6 inches above the roof. The large box — the centerpiece of the set — 

 has the upper perch, also upper and lower perches on the four sides, and eight 

 apartments, each about 8^ x i4>^ inches. This box fronts in four directions 

 and has sixteen openings, about 2]/!^ x 3>^ inches. Not much to the liking of 

 the birds at first, not at all in accordance with the ideas of the critics of this 

 kind of architecture, it has been a kind of playground, and several broods have 

 been brought up in it. 



With the ordinary boxes, if the several apartments are occupied, there is 

 not room at night for the pair and their fledglings, and the result is that some 

 of them are crowded almost to suffocation. Just here it is that the large box 

 has served as a sort of overflow bungalow, affording daytime shelter in in- 

 clement weather and comfortable sleeping-quarters for home folks and guests 

 through the warm summer nights. 



It was the intention to let the birds give grace and charm to the picture, 

 but they stole away early, without notice of the time of their departure. 



Of the Martins it may be said that they are birds of good cheer. When perched 

 about their homes, and also in their rooms, they have a kind of rolling warble, 

 winding up with a smacking of the mouth, and repeated ad finem, if not ad 

 infinitum. Their note, when on the wing, is clear and far-carrying, and seems 

 to mean that they are having a very good time. An occasional part of^their 



