Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-08-18


Martin joins her spouse in providiu.
for the wants Of their offspring. Cum-
monty, out Of several young ones rhat
break the shell two only are Irnrco.
the Spartan parents destroy iHg those
which show signs of disease or W. ok
ness. Only one brood IN the year is
produced by martins in Maine. The
lledglings gain fast in strength ami
size and are fully equal 10 the long
flight they must undeltak when the
time for migration comes in Septem Der
Up To the second season IN their TX
istence the male and the female MAJ TN
have lhr same brown tints OF tack nud
wings above the gray of the breast
These tinls the female retains through
out her life, but during the second sea-
son the male birds la mage darkens
to the splendid black. with blue and
purple sheens, which ~ the color there.
after. The martins manners and
mode Of living ale all in keeping with
his faultless attir, aud high surround
ing, and he may truly be called the
finished gentlemen among birds HIS
sony, soft and sweet, like laughter
ripping up through the throat" ~
modulated 10 the pitch habtual in all
good society. and j. very agreeable 10
the ear. Ia Ill his relations With hu-
mandy The martin j. very dlscriminat-
ing aud exclusive. and he cannot be
tempted to enter the most elaborate
aud costly house burt Ter his occupar.
cy IulrSS the people on The premises
are quite up To his ihstidious noii 'ns.
1t l. IA say ing among lhc country folk
that martins will make their home
only where good people I've. AS n
huu>ehc lder the marlln is bird of
from wnom good behav-
ior is expected, ant he lives up Ia the
Of his station, being in
all respects good husband, father aud
provider HIS hunting field is a noble
one, being the broad air, where, ever
u )on the wing, he takes the flying in
5 ,cts a.ow and aloft.
In dcfense Of their homes martins
are fierce little fighters, and they will !
that comes pear where their houses
are situated Their attack is made al |
ways from above, by darling down up
On the irger bird, pecking Lin sharp
" with their heaks, clipping him with
their wings and making it warm fol
him generally until he is glad To 1y
away. In this way a colony of mar
Tins protects the poultry yard beneath
Is house from feathered enemies. and
this fact alone, if no other reasons,
would make these birds welcome ten
coming near the house, they will SIM
ilarly attack, swooping above IT and
it with their beaks and
wings. This they sometimes have the
Of doing in mere sport, but
in case If Il cat it may prove danger
Gus. for with sudden reach of her
paw. one OF these ANIMALS has been
known 70 catch martin skimming
past her.
Thus through the summer the mar
Tins Lad their free and joyous life be-
tween the earth and sky. Toward the
middle of September when the early
frosts are in the air and insects are
becoming scarce, these birds prepare
for their migration 10 The south. They
do not start on their journey directly
from their houses, but the martins re-
siding over considerable tract of
country meet at II common point from
which they will take flight together.
The autumn rendezvous for the mar
tins and the other smaller varieties of
swallow in the middle PIscataquis val
ley is wooded island in the river in
Foxcroft, known as Long Island.
Here these birds gather in vast hum.
bers, flying abroad over half the coun-
ty for their food by day and coming
back to the island tn roost in the trees
and bushes at night. The water on
every side protects them from the visits
Of cats and other marauders and so
.hckly are the birds clustered together
hat when any alarm startles them al
night the sound of their wings is like
he wind blowing through the trees of
great forest. Flock by flock. gather
n,t ~ tho ntultitnha N