262 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



quench their thirst, near the braids of hanging moss, in the land that 

 knows no snow. 



Before this country was discovered, before civilized men erected 

 dwellings for the Martin they nested, like other swallows, in hollow 

 trees. The Indians used to cut round holes in the old fashioned gourd;, 

 dig out the contents, fasten it to a tall pole, and raise it for the Martins 

 to nest in. In many places throughout the country to-day this is done,, 

 and is very interesting. The hole in the gourd should be fully three 

 inches in diameter, and placed just high enough up on the side to leave 

 a cup for the nest, and under the hole a twig should be fastened for the 

 birds to alight on. 



A very neat and artistic Martin-house can be made in the shape of a 

 little cottage, with from two to six rooms. These should be not less 

 than seven inches, inside measurement. The doors should be three 

 inches wide, with platforms in front of each for the birds to alight on. 



A gentleman in my neighborhood has one patterned after his own 

 house of ten rooms, all the rooms being occupied every summer. 



A neat little two-roomed cottage like my own martin-house can be 

 made out of any wooden box which may be found about the house or 

 at the family grocery-store. 



In the neighborhood of the Ohio State University there are no less- 

 than fifteen martin-houses, nearly all put up through the writers in- 

 fluence. All are inhabited by birds each summer, and their owners de- 

 clare they never would be without them. 



The Martin is not particular about the materials for his nest. Sticks,, 

 straws, and dry grass, which he gathers from the fields or roadways. 

 Sometimes he alights on a tree and picks off a green leaf and carries it 

 to his nest. The hollow of the nest is usually back in one of of the 

 furtherest corners of the room. 



I have observed that the birds work harder while building during 

 wet weather, especially immediately after a rain. Probably the reason 

 is, that the wet materials pack more closely than dry ones, for, upon 

 examination, the nest will be found quite solid. 



Commonly from four to five narrow, white eggs are laid, rarely six. 

 These are hatched by the middle of June, or, according to circumstances 

 a little later, and by the middle of July the young birds begin thinking 

 about flying, which gives the old ones great concern. As in the case 

 of a young lad determined to leave home against the wishes of his 

 parents, they do everything in their power to persuade him that he is 

 not able to take care of himself. The old Martins are afraid their little 

 ones will fall into the jaws of quadrupeds in waiting beneath. 



Here is the way they hold their little ones as long as they can: The 



