Redwing 83 



about two thousand flies a day, and while he was in my care he kept to about 

 that average. 



With such an estabhshed record for insect-eating, of what incalculable value 

 are Redwing's innumerable kinsfolk to the orchardist, to the agriculturist and 

 to the lumberman, in their consumption of untold numbers of destructive 

 caterpillars and other insects ! 



Late one afternoon, when my dainty feathered guest flew about so actively 

 that I believed he would now be able to care for himself, Redwing and I took 

 the path to the woodland together. In the gnarled hillside orchard, a favorite 

 Warbler haunt, I photographed Redwing in his cage and then set him free. 

 With a few exultant notes he flew by short stages through the orchard, up 

 the hillside, and met the descending night in the dim mosaics of the 

 woodland. 



The Purple Martin at Wichita, Kansas 



By RICHARD H. SULLIVAN, Wichita, Kansas 



THIS beautiful summer resident, Progne subis, is probably the most 

 sociable of the community birds that visit the temperate regions of 

 eastern North America during the nesting season. I say 'beautiful' 

 because of its symmetry and elegant poise in flight, and particularly because 

 of its inviting insistence that the bleak, somber, wintry days should go, and 

 that the greening, with its varied chorus from other feathered throats, is come. 

 Indeed, his friendliness is in direct contrast to the remarkable indifference of 

 civilization, whose habitations he frequents while performing a positive ser- 

 vice, for which he receives little or no return, except in death by the shot- 

 gun, as voluminous evidence will show. 



I have been building houses and shelters for Martins, Wrens, Bluebirds, 

 Chickadees, and other birds, for forty years, or ever since I was big enough to 

 build anything, and the first of these birds has always appealed to me as ap- 

 proaching the ideal, with the sprightly little Wren as a close second ; for both 

 species consume many times their weight in the noxious insect enemies of 

 mankind. At the same time, their general attitude is so cheerful and friendly 

 that one might be excused in wanting them around all the time. 



When I came to Wichita from Colorado, in June, 1905, a careful watch was 

 kept to observe Martins as the train moved eastward. The first note was 

 heard at Dodge City, 150 miles to the westward of this city. Upon arrival, 

 sixteen large and small colonies were found in the down-town district, and 

 several in the residence sections, with a total of about seventy-five pairs, as a 

 rough estimate. I have kept a record of their arrival and departure in season 

 since that time, and find that there was apparently an increase up to the sum- 

 mer of 191 1, when they seemed to be somewhat less numerous. 



