416 LAND BIRDS 



California Breeding Range : Chiefly in Transition zone, from latitude 40° 



southward. 

 Breeding Season : June. 

 Nest : Generally placed in eaves and cornices of buildings, or in boxes 



specially prepared for them ; composed of a large variety of materials, 



— leaves, twigs, straws, string, rags, etc. 

 Eggs: 4 to 5 ; pure glossy white. Size 0.98 X 0.73. 



The Western Martin is in some ways less progressive 

 than his Eastern relative, the purple martin, for he still 

 builds largely in hollow trees. Instead of the familiar 

 friend we know as circling over our lawns, nesting in 

 bird boxes, or in holes under the house cornice, and so 

 tame that we may lift the mother from her nestlings 

 without frightening her, we find in the Western species 

 a forest-loving bird. Occasionally these Martins are 

 abundant about a town or farm building, but it is usually 

 because some especial pains have been taken to attract 

 them, and often because the first pair of birds were 

 taken when young and have become domesticated. They 

 are the same care-free, merry chatterers as the purple 

 martin, circling on tireless wings throughout the swarms 

 of insects in the air, turning, darting, and rising with 

 marvellous grace and swiftness. 



Besides small insects they are fond of beetles and 

 butterflies, and doubtless they rid the farmer of many 

 injurious pests wherever the birds can be induced to 

 colonize. Under whatever circumstances they are found 

 they are sociable little birds among themselves, never 

 nesting in single pairs, and when together keeping up a 

 sweet twittering song. 



One looks at the nestling and at the egg in amaze- 

 ment that so much bird could ever have come from so 



