160 BIRDS OF OHIO. 
as we are told by Dr. W. B. Barrows in his report upon the 
English Sparrow, the sparrows are successful in driving 
the Martins away only half of the time, that would: fully 
account for the decrease in numbers. There can be little 
question that at least a part of the decrease must be attrib- 
uted to the sparrow. 
It should not be necessary to state that the food of the 
Purple Martin consists largely of flying insects. During 
the time the young are fed the old birds are driven to search 
the ground as well as the air for grasshoppers and other 
large insects to appease the appetite of the always hungry 
young ones. Their services to mankind will only be appre- 
ciated when they are gone and nothing takes their place 
as destroyers of the insects which cause us so great annoy- 
ance. 
The Martin not infrequently reaches our southern border 
during the second week in March, and the lake shore dur- 
ing the third week. It moves south again about 
September 15. Rev. Mr. Henninger reports an albino at 
South Webster, Scioto county, March 29, 1895. 
221. (612.) PErROCHELIDON LUNIFRONS (Say.). 7%. 
Cliff Swallow. 
Synonyms: Hirundo fulva, H. lunifrons. 
Have Swallow, Crescent Swallow, Mud Swallow, Mud Daub- 
er, Square-tailed Barn Swallow, White-fronted Swallow, 
Rocky Mountain Swallow, Republican. 
Bonaparte, I, 1825, 65. 
The Cliff Swallow nests in colonies, and is therefore 
common and may be abundant in a few places. It is hardly 
common in Lorain county. There is no record of a colony 
nesting away from human habitations in Ohio since its set- 
tlement by civilized people. Their favorite nesting-place is 
under the eaves of a barn or other similar building, often in 
companies of several hundred, where the building affords 
enough room. The flask-shaped mud nests are familiar to 
every farm boy. 
" Like the other swallows, the Cliff Swallow feeds upon 
