154 The Wilson Bulletin — No. Gl. 



BIRDS OBSERVED IN HAWKINS COUNTY, EAST 

 TENNESSEE. 



J. H. FLEMING. 



The following notes were made in the vicinity of Surgoins- 

 ville on the Holston river, between March liO and April lo, 

 1907, and can by no means be considered as representing the 

 normal conditions, for almost two weeks before my 

 arrival the weather had been unusually warm, on March 

 30 the country between Bristol, Tennessee, and Rogersville, 

 the nearest station to my destination, was ablaze with color ; 

 the peach orchards in full bloom, the pink contrasting with the 

 pale blue of the wistaria about the houses, and the wooded, 

 leafy hill-sides were already showing great patches of 

 white cherry and pink red-bud. On March 31 it rained 

 and on April 1 the higher mountains on the Virginia 

 border were snow capped, frost came on the night of the 

 second, and any migrations that may have been under way 

 ceased. It was cold and rained most of the time till the Uth, 

 when it turned to snow, the weather getting gradually colder 

 until the ponds were frozen over, and during the remainder of 

 my stay there was a good deal of snow alternating with rain, 

 and sharp frosts every night. Under these conditions bird life 

 was not very evident, and had it not been for the assistance of 

 my friend, Mr. E. F. Handy, C. E., and the kindness of Dr. 

 W. C. Lyons, in whose garden I was able to observe many 

 birds, the short time at my disposal would have shown little 

 result. 



The valley of the Holston river is about 1,400 feet above 

 sea level, the land rising gradually to sharp topped ridges 

 that reach 1,700 feet at the back of Dr. Lyons' estate. The 

 whole country is a succession of fertile valleys, timbered with 

 much oak, walnut, and hickory in the uncultivated parts ; 

 separated by ridges wliich rise gradually on one side and drop 

 suddenly on the other. These ridges are well covered with 

 hardwood. Birds were scarce in the woods, probably owing 

 to the weather conditions. 



