48 



JOURNAL OF THE 



etc., and becomes, from its extent in central position, the recip- 

 ient of many extra-limital species from the fauna to the north 

 and south. Perha[)s no phice east of the Rockies is more inter- 

 esting in proportion to its area than is the mountain region of 

 Western Nortli Carolina. It possesses the liighest peak east of 

 the Rocky Mountains. Starting in the valleys at the foot of 

 some of the highest peaks, in the ascent of th(i mountain side 

 we can pass through successively four different faunae, the Lou- 

 isianian, Carolinian, Alleghanian, and Canadian,* having rep- 

 resented as it were upon one mountain side characteristic species 

 from an extent of territory reach i no: from the Gulf States to 

 British America. In the middle region nature has also pro- 

 vided for the retention of numbers and variety of the feathered 

 kind, notwithstanding the encroachment of human civilization 

 upon their primeval haunts. The "rolling" character of the 

 surface with its attendant tree- and bush-begirt streams and val- 

 leys; the worn-out hillsides grown up to "old field pine"; and 

 the steep rocky places incapable of cultivation, offer a peaceful 

 harbor to such as are not yet emboldened to live near the habi- 

 tation of man. 



The varied climate in different sections also testifies to the 

 natural adaptation of the State to the reception of widely differ- 

 ent fauna?, or the same fauna at different parts of the State at 

 different seasons of the year. The following table will illustrate 

 the average temperature of the different regions for the four sea- 

 sons of the year. The figures are taken from a table made by 

 the North Carolina Geological Survey, covering observations 

 made during eight to fifteen years in various parts of the State. 

 I select only those figures which represent the temperature of 

 the regions I have chosen for use in the present pamphlet. 



Mountain region. 



Middle region 



Coast region 



SPRING. 



52° 

 57° 

 59° 



SUMMER. 



70° 



76° 



77° 



AUTUMN. 



50° 



58° 

 63° 



WINTER. 



36° 

 40° 

 45° 



*See Auk, Vol. Ill, No. 1. January, 1886. Brewster. 



