84 Journal of the Mitchell Society [August 



our other poisonous snakes is only partially known in. detail, 

 though the general regions inhabited by them can be defined. 



VI. BIRDS 



Of all the native animals undoubtedly the Birds hold first 

 place in popular favor and we have had more resident observers 

 of birds 'than of any other group. A very large body of records 

 has been, compiled and is now in course of being published by 

 the Geological Survey. The authors are the Messrs. Brimley 

 and T. G. Pearson, formerly a resident of the state and member 

 of our organization,. The Volume will, we hope, be a fitting 

 companion to the one on Fishes, already referred to. In this 

 group, fairly complete data is at hand from four localities 

 which well represent 'the chief sections of the state, they are: 

 Beaufort, Kaleigh, Chapel Hill and vicinity of Asheville. Tri- 

 bute should here be paid to 'the pioneer work of Mr. C. W. 

 Cairns (now deceased), of Weaverville. Working single-handed 

 in his leisure hours, he made known a large part of the bird-life 

 of the Asheville region, and made material contributions to what 

 we know of other groups in that section. 



But even in this relatively well-known group we find some 

 curious and awkward gaps in our definitely recorded data. Thus?- 

 Currituck County has a record of 37 species of water-fowl and 

 shore birds, but the Sharp-shiimed Hawk is the only land bird 

 on positive record. Another case in point is found in the group of 

 owls. The Barred Owl is probably our most common and wide- 

 ly distributed owl, but has found its way into our records of 

 only four localities, while the Barn Owl, which is one of our 

 least common owls is recorded from no less than thirteen dis- 

 tinct localities. As with many other things the explanation is 

 easy when you know it. The Barred Owl is not especially con- 

 spicuous and creates no striking impression when seen, hence 

 the hundreds that are doubtless killed every year excite no curi- 

 osity and only the bird student who is interested in placing every 

 species on exact record, takes actual note of its presence. But 

 the much scarcer Barn Owl, is of striking and ludicrous appear- 

 ance, and so seldom seen that when one is captured the captor 

 is apt to think that he has discovered a new species of bird, and 



