q6 Brewster on the Birds of Western North Carolina. [ Januaiv 



general characteristics of the region, and something more than 

 a gHmpse at its bird Hie. At all events, the material results seem 

 worth considering at some length. 



By turning to a topographical map of the region it will be seen 

 that Western North Carolina is crossed by two mountain ranges, 

 the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains. These ranges 

 extend in a northeasterly and soutinvesterly (Urection, and are gen- 

 erally parallel, but diverge slightly towards the south, converging 

 again and more or less completely uniting just north of the 

 Georgia line. The country between them forms an extensive 

 plateau from thirty to fifty miles in width and having a length 

 within the State of about one hundred and fifty miles. This 

 plateau varies in elevation from 2000* to 4000 feet. Its surface is 

 exceedingly irregular, being broken everywhere by long, narrow 

 ridges, rounded hills, and low^ mountains, separated by valleys of 

 everv conceivable shape, and varymg depth and extent. It is also 

 bisected at right angles by such ranges as the Nantahaleh, Cowee, 

 Balsam, and Newfound Mountains, short but usually continuous 

 chains of considerable elevation, which form imposing barriers, 

 and subdivide the great central valley into several separate basins. 



The plateau, as a rule, is heavily timbered and exceptionally 

 well-watered. Every valley, however small, has its stream, 

 usuallv a shallo\\- brook of clear, cold water, flowing between 

 banks fringed with alders or rhododendrons. There are two 

 rivers of considerable size, the Teimessee and French Broad, 

 which, after receiving the waters of numerous tributaries, cut 

 their way through the Great Smoky Mountains antl empty into 

 the Ohio. Rather curiously, the entire plateau is drained in this 

 direction, all the rivers which discharge into the Atlantic rising 

 on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge, and those whicli flow 

 into the Gulf of Mexico on the southern slope of the combined 

 ranges. 



The principal mountain chains above mentioned include many 

 summits which rise above 6000 feet and. it is said, upwards of 

 twenty higher than Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. They 

 are invariably wooded nearly or quite to their tops with various 

 deciduous trees, chiefly oaks, maples, chestnuts, and walnuts. 

 These at the lower and mid elevations grow to an unusual size. 



* Portions of Madison County, whicli I did not visit, are said to be as low as 1325 

 feet. 



