De inewe aA UeDeU, BoOiNS Bei hell N i) 
and hopped up the ladder-like branches until well out of reach. Shortly 
after the other also demonstrated its newly acquired powers of flight by 
flying to the top of a large tree about eighty yards away. I thought it 
unnecessary to attempt to recapture the birds and replace them in the nest 
as both were near the site and the adult vultures had joined them. 
Out of the fourteen trips made to the nest an adult vulture was found 
in the cavity on eleven occasions. It was frequently possible for me to 
climb to the entrance and look in upon the bird as it stood with its young 
in the nest. When flushing from the cavity it would claw and flap its way 
up the inside of the tree, pause a moment at the entrance, then flap off, 
sometimes remaining in the vicinity of the nest and at others soaring off 
out of sight over some distant hills. This bird was presumed to be the 
female although, as in the case of the young, I was never able to dis- 
tinguish the sex of the parents. On only three visits were both adults 
cbserved near the nest. July 7, my last trip to the site, they appeared 
only mildly concerned over the disturbance of their home-life as they sat 
together in a nearby tree or circled low over my head, turning their heads 
inquisitively to watch me. 
a a a 
Increase of Purple Martins 
By KARL E. BARTEL 
WE OFTEN WONDERED whether purple martins increased from year to year. 
In 19386 Alfred H. Reuss and I decided to find out. Living in Blue Island, 
Ill., a city of 16,500 population and covering an area of about two miles 
wide by four miles long, this did not seem to be too hard a problem. 
So, August lst we started up one street and down another to canvass 
the city. This took us about ten days. 
The results were very promising as all who had houses up cooperated 
splendidly. Many of the places were found to be not suitable for martins, 
and our suggestions brought forth new houses the following year. After 
three years of this survey Mr. Reuss gave it up, but I have continued it 
until now and hope to continue indefinitely. 
I have discovered many things about martins. Some of them are: 
1. In order to have martins, starlings and sparrows must be kept out, 
at least at first. 
2. Martins like triangular rooms best, with the entrance near the small 
angle; a good size is 8x12x14. 
The house should be painted mostly white. 
em Co 
Place as many % inch dowels around the house as you can for 
perching space. 
5. Place the house at least 20 feet from the nearest tree or building. 
This survey was conducted to find out whether the nesting population 
increased, so the offspring were not counted. Each year I ask every person 
who has a house up how many pairs of nesting martins he has, and I 
believe the results are at least 99% accurate. 
