The Audubon Societies 



247 



On the evemng of September 11, between 6.30 and 7.30, hundreds of 

 ISIartins passed overhead, northward bound. The}' came in ver}^ irregular 

 nuinbers, sometimes only a few appearing, and again great nimibers rushed 

 by on all sides. Some flew very low and others high, but they were all going 

 in the same direction. They were probably headed for some roost, where 



A MARTIN COLOXY 



they congregated before their departure. I made no count as to their numbers, 

 but feel safe to say that there were at least several thousand of them. 



The last Martins of the year were seen on September 21. This is an unu- 

 sually late date for their departure from this locality. In the fall of 191 o 

 they were last seen on September 12. 



QrESTiox. — Can you tell me why the IMartins remain ^dth us so much 

 later in the fall than they do at points farther south? — Hasky B. Log.aa', Jr. 

 (age, 16), Royalton, Minn. 



[It is encouraging to learn that Martins are so numerous in certain localities, when 

 the}- are so rare or entireh" absent in many places. UndoubtedJ}', the erection of more 

 Martin-houses would aid in preventing the decrease of this friendly and valuable species. 



B}- April 29, 191 2, the house represented in the accompanying illustration contained 

 eight pairs of Martins, a good beginning for the present season. 



Just wh3' this colon3- of Martins, with those of the adjoining neighborhood and 

 from points presumabh^ farther north, should remain later in the fall than colonies to 

 the south, it is impossible to S2i.y without a closer stud3' of local conditions, and a list 

 of dates of the hrst and last arrivals of this species along the Mississippi Vailed' route 

 of migration during both spring and fall. It is probable that, as in the case of some other 

 species, indi-\-iduals or colonies overtake or outspeed others in making the annual jour- 



