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for a considerable time in the nest and, even after their first flight, old and 
young return to the nest at night. Martins are domestic and sociable 
birds and greet each other with welcoming gurgles and chatterings. Each 
is interested in the other's family affairs and there is a constant interchange 
of visits between neighbours. They rarely quarrel among themselves but 
show a united front to common enemies, especially the English Sparrow. 
A colony when established can hold its own against that pest very well 
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, out well in the open, and so arranged 
that it can be lowered for cleaning. 1 
Unfortunately, the treeless prairie is not an aboriginal home of the 
species and it is not as common as we should like west of Manitoba, nor 
has it there taken as kindly to nesting boxes as it has in the east. Wher- 
ever Martins occur, they show the same appreciation of the hollow gal- 
vanized cornices of business buildings and without doubt a little coaxing 
would introduce them to the advantages of well-made bird-houses. Once 
established in such houses, the species would probably increase. It might 
take some time to accomplish this as the Purple Martin is greatly attached 
to its home locality, and, until forced to, does not usually seek new quarters. 
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. 
612. Cliff Swallow, eve swallow, mud swallow. Petrochdidon lunifrons. L, 
6-01. Plate LXIII A. Above, except rump, steely black; rump, light tan and a white 
or light cream-coloured bar across the forehead. Below, dull white; face and throat, rich 
chestnut, blending away in the breast and on flanks. A suffusea iridescent black spot 
on foreneck and upper breast. Tail, slightly forked when closed, nearly square when 
open. Female and juveniles: similar to male, but colours of the latter are duller. 
Distinctions. Much like the Barn Swallow (Plate LXIII B), but without long swallow- 
tails; pure or nearly pure white on abdomen; face, chestnut, and a nearly white forehead 
bar. Rump, light tan instead of solid black like back. 
Field Marks. The Cliff Swallow is a chunkily-built bird; in flight, broader in proportion 
than any other Swallow except the Purple Martin. In general colour effect much hke the 
Bam Swallow, but with square tail (Figure 274 e), instead of a deeply forked one, and a 
prominent light tan rump-spot. The less ruddy underpartB and forehead-bar nearly white 
instead of dull red are also good distinctions. Cliff Swallows may always easily be picked 
out from flocks of mixed Swallows by the rump-spot. 
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. North America. In Canada, across the Dominion north to the limit of 
trees near the Arctic coast. 
SUBSPECIES. The only form to be found in Canada is the Northern Cliff Swallow 
Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons. 
Most characteristically, a cliff dweller as its name implies, but in many 
places it uses sides of barns and buildings for nesting sites. Along the steep 
canyon-like sides of many western rivers, its mud-nests may be seen in 
'A pamphlet, "Bird Houses and Their Occupants”, giving full particulars how to build Martin and bird- 
houses, may be obtained free of charge from the Dominion Parks Branch of the Department of the Interior, 
Ottawa, Ontario. 
