194 



indeed. A Martin house should contain several rooms about 8 by 8 inches, 

 weather and draft proof at all points except the door which should be about 

 2 inches in diameter and 1| inches from the floor. The house should 

 stand 15 to 20 feet above the ground, up well in the open, and in such a 

 manner that it can be lowered for cleaning. 



There are indications that the Purple Martin is growing fewer in 

 numbers. Old colonies from time to time are broken up and few new 

 ones take their places. The Martins return to their summer quarters 

 very early in the spring and at times suffer severely from late frosts and 

 cold rains which stop the flight of insects and deprive the birds of the 

 necessary large and constant supply of food. 



Economic Status. The Martin like the other Swallows is a bird with 

 no bad habits, and with so many good ones that every effort should be 

 made to aid its increase. 



Genus — Petrochelidon. Cliff Swallow. 



612. Cliff Swallow, eave swallow, mot swallow. fr. — l'hirondelle a 

 front blanc. Petrochelidon lunifrons. L, 6-01. Similar in general coloration to the 

 Barn Swallow (Plate XXXVI A), but different in detail and without the long, deeply 

 forked tail. 



Distinctions. Throat, richer in colour and more reddish brown than that of the 

 Barn Swallow; the brown colour extending in a narrow band across the back of the neck 

 and with a black spot in the middle of lower throat instead of a broken black bar across 

 breast. Forehead, sharply contrasting creamy white instead of reddish. Rump light 

 reddish. Below, dull white. Tail, almost square. 



Field Marks. The white forehead and reddish rump make the best field marks. 

 The square tail will separate it from all Barn Swallows except juveniles which have not 

 yet grown the fork. 



Nesting. A typical nest is built entirely of mud carried in little pellets in the bill and 

 on the feet. The mud is mixed with saliva and plastered pellet by pellet on the wall 

 under the eaves of some building. The nest is first a shelf built out from the wall, then 

 saucer-shaped and then cup-shaped, in any of which states it may be left as finished. 

 In the best examples the sides are continued until the nest assumes the shape of a round 

 flask with the neck drawn over and pointing outwards. 



Distribution. America. In eastern Canada to well north of civilization. 



SUBSPECIES. The subspecies of the Cliff Swallow occupying most of North 

 America and all Canada is the Eastern Cliff Swallow P. I. lunifrons, the type form of the 

 species. 



Originally a cliff-dweller, as the name implies, within the confines of 

 civilization this Swallow now nests almost entirely on barns and other 

 buildings. It is often of rather local distribution, different colonies 

 nesting in many cases in widely separated groups of farm buildings. 



Genus — Hirundo. Bam Swallow. 



613. Barn Swallow, fr. — l'hirondelle des granges. Hirundo erythrogastra. 

 L, 6-95. Plate XXXVI A. 



Distinctions. Broken black bar across the chest beneath the reddish throat, black 

 rump, and, in adult, long forked tail are distinctive of the species. 



Field Marks. Rufous tints beneath and black rump are good field marks; also, 

 in the adult the long forked tail and in juveniles the white in the tail. 



Nesting. The nest is far from being the beautiful structure the Cliff Swallow builds. 

 It is largely made of mud mixed with grasses, lined with grass and feathers, and set on a 

 support such as a rafter or beam; but often the slightest projection will be itilized as a 

 foundation upon which to build. Some farmers ensure the presence of the birds about 



