ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 47 



Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge, Mass., curator of birds 

 aud mammals in the Museum of Comparativ^e Zoology, loaned me 

 a copy of a pamphlet* describing a two weeks tour in the mountain 

 region, from which I have gleaned the most important informa- 

 tion concerning the occurrence of the summer visitors of that 

 region. This pamphlet enumerates 102 species. 



The private collection of James Busbee, of Raleigh, contains 

 87 North Carolina species, most of which were collected in the 

 vicinity of Raleigh. This list furnishes some very rare occur- 

 rences. 



I take this opportunity of recognizing the aid given, in deter- 

 mining the nesting of our birds, by Drs. Kemp P. and Herbert 

 B. Battle, of Raleigh, from a collection of eggs made by them. 

 The 3ggs were recently determined by the curator of oology at 

 the Smithsonian institution. The list contains 57 North Caro- 

 lina species. 



Where credit is due any of the above named gentlemen for 

 observations on any but our very common birds, I have given 

 it under each species. 



Rich variety of bird life. A glance at the map of the East- 

 ern United States will show that North Carolina is peculiarly 

 situated, not only with reference to its central position from 

 north to south, and its great extent east and west, but also in the 

 variety of its physical features. It is situated between the par- 

 allels of latitude 33|° and 36|° north, and longitude 75J° and 

 84 J° west from Greenwich ; approximately 580 miles long from 

 Cape Hatteras to the western limits of Cherokee county, and 

 200 miles wide in the vicinity of Ca})e Fear, with 300 miles of 

 sea-coast in the east and 200 miles of mountain rano;e in the 

 west. The coast region, with Currituck, Albemarle, and Pam- 

 lico, and the lesser sounds, with the attendant estuaries, numer- 

 ous rivers, and extensive salt and fresh water marshes, invites 

 vast numbers of Diving Birds, Long-winged-, Toti])almate-, and 

 Lamellirostral-Swimmers, Shore Birds, Herons, Ibises, Rails, 



* An Ornithological Reconnaissance in Western North Carolina, b}' William 

 Brewster. The Auk, Vol. Ill, No, 1, January, 18«6. 



