i8S6.] Brewster on the Birds of Western North Carolina. 1^5 



single fact shows more clearly the general absence of a true Louisianian 

 Fauna in this region than the substitution, over even its lowest portions, 

 of the Whip-poor-will for the Chuck-wills-widow. At just what particular 

 point outside the encompassing mountain ranges this interchange is 

 effected I cannot say, but certain it is that the larger bird is unknown over 

 the length and breadth of the great central plateau, whereas the Whip- 

 poor-will is common everywhere to at least 3500 feet. Above this 

 ■ elevation it does not appear to range, although from the extremity of the 

 plateau at Highlands (4000 feet) it may be heard nightly in the valleys 

 a few hundred feet below. 



25. Chordeiles virginianus. Nighthawk. — Common about Asheville, 

 but not seen elsewhere. It is said to occur over the entire region, where 

 it is universally called 'Bull-bat.' 



26. Chaetura pelasgica. Chimney Swift. — This ubiquitous species 

 which, in Eastern North America at least, seems to be indifferent to 

 climate or surroundings, was more generally distributed over the region 

 under consideration than any other bird except the Turkey Buzzard. 

 Thus I saw it in all the valley towns, careering madly over the streets 

 and housetops; on the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers, skim- 

 ming close to the surface and occasionally dipping down to drink; 

 circling over the oak woods on the mountain sides; and about their 

 summits, sweeping close to the tops of the spruces or wandering aimlessly 

 through space in the blue dome above. Like the Buzzard, its unusual 

 power of wing enables it to traverse miles of air almost without thought 

 or effort, and the bird that now drinks in the Swannanoa may be, a few 

 moments later, hawking for insects above Mitchell's High Peak, twenty 

 miles away. Nevertheless the species certainly nests, as well as flies, at 

 various elevations, for I saw it entering chimneys in the towns, and 

 hollow oaks high on the mountain sides. 



27. Trochilus colubris. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. — Rather 

 common, ranging from 2000 to 5000 feet. 



28. Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird.— Seen only about Asheville, 

 where a few haunted the shade trees in the town and the belt of timber 

 bordering the Swannanoa River. 



29. Myiarchus crinitus. Great Crested Flycatcher. — A common 

 and vei-y generally distributed species, ranging from the lower valleys 

 up to at least 4500 feet. Naturally the open oak woodlands were its 

 favorite haunts, and throughout these its loud, penetrating call was one 

 of the most characteristic sounds. 



30. Sayornis phcebe. Phcebe. — Very common along streams, nesting 

 usually, if not exclusively, under rocks and earth banks away from 

 buildings. I did not find it at a greater elevation than 3000 feet. 



31. Contopus borealis. Olive-sided Flycatcher. — Over the exten- 

 sive plateau occupying the extreme southeastern corner of Macon County 

 this fine Flycatcher was not uncommon. As in New England, it was 

 usually found about the edges of clearings or along the courses of the 

 mountain streams where, perched on the slender pinnacle of some tall 



