244 



TEANSACrriONS OF THE 



[1895 



the elevation of the valley is about 250 feet above tide. The 

 mean annual temperature ranges from 50° to 55°. 



The Apalachian region, or Western Maryland, consists of a 

 series of parallel mountain ridges with deep valleys between 

 th'em, cut at nearly right angles by the Potomac River. The 

 Catoctin Ridge reaches 1800 feet, and the Blue Ridge, at Qui- 

 rauk, 2400 ; while at Middletown and Hagerstown the eleva- 

 tion is 500. The mountains proper begin at North Mountain, 

 and reach in a number of cases 3000 feet and over ; while the 

 valleys near the Potomac have an elevation of 500 feet rapidly 

 ascending ; the river at Cumberland being about 600 feet. 

 The mean average temperature ranges from 50° to 53°. 



In the above mentioned areas, the Coastal Plain and the 

 Piedmont Plateau are ornithologically within what is usually 

 considered as the Carolina faunal area, as shown by the nesting 

 of the Cardinal, Carolina Wren, Tufted Tit, etc. It will be 

 found to be fairly divided into two sub-faunal regions. In the 

 lower, or Coastal Plain, will be found the Mockingbird, Fish 

 Hawk and Fish Crow, breeding in numbers. In the southern 

 part of Maryland will be found traces of a still more southern 

 faunal area, the Louisiana, distinguished by the presence of the 

 Brown-headed Nuthatch. 



The eastern part of the Apalachian region is also included 

 in the Carolina faunal area. The AUeghanian fauna covers 

 the mountain region from North Mountain westward, it also 

 appears an the higher parts of the Blue Ridge. This faunal 

 region is the breeding range of the Chestnut-sided Warbler, 

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Wilson's Thrush, etc. As this section 

 has never been fully investigated by ornithologists, there 

 remains the possibility, as suggested by Mr. C. W. Richmond, 

 that the Snowbird (Junco hyemalis) may yet be found breeding 

 in some of the hemlock tracts still standing; this would give 

 a tinge of a more northern faunal area, the Canadian. 



A circle drawn round Baltimore City, with its centre at 

 Baltimore and Charles streets, and a 15-mile radius, will take 

 in over one-half of Baltimore County, and parts of Anne 



