i8S6.] Brewster on the Birds of Western North Carolina. 107 



Lark at several places, but did not happen to meet with it living. A; 

 Highlands two skins were shown me, and I was told that it occurs numer- 

 ously in the vicinity during autumn and winter. It is said to breed spar- 

 ingly throughout the region, and there can be little doubt that this is true, 

 although I have noproof of the fact. 



40. Icterus spurius. Orchard Oriole. — Common throughout the 

 low country, especially in or near towns, where its rich, flowing song was 

 frequently heard among the trees shading the noisiest streets. 



41. Icterus galbula. Baltimore Oriole.— The distribution of this 

 species in the region under consideration is somewhat remarkable. About 

 Asheville it is not uncommon, and I noted several there daily, either in 

 the fine old oaks that ornament so many of the cultivated grounds, or 

 among the sycamores and red birches which overhang the neighboring 

 Swannanoa. At Highlands I saw a single male — an unusally brilliant 

 one — which I was told was the only bird of its kind in the vicinity. Else- 

 where I searched for the species in vain. Of course it may occur in other 

 localities, but throughout the region at large it is certainlv rare and very 

 locally distributed. 



42. Quiscalus quiscula.? Purple Grackle. — At Asheville several 

 pairs of Crow Blackbirds were breeding in a cluster of white pines in the 

 heart of the town. Of course it was impossible to shoot any of them 

 here— hence the .? attached to the specific name, which possibly should be 

 followed by the sub-specific term cejietis. As nearly as I could make out, 

 however, — and I had a close view of several of the males — the form was 

 true quiscula. 



43. Carpodacus purpureas. Purple Finch. — At Old Fort, May 23, 

 the Purple Finch was abundant, in full song, and apparently breeding, but 

 to my surprise it was not afterwards met with, although I searched for it 

 carefully, especially in the balsam forests on the Black Mountains. 



44. Loxia curvirostra minor. American Red Crossbill. — Seen onlv 

 on the Black Mountains, where it was numerous in small flocks through- 

 out the balsam forests above 5000 feet. At Highlands I was told that it 

 regularly appeared in winter about the outskirts of the town. I failed to 

 secure specimens. 



45. Spinus tristis. American Goldfinch. — Nowhere very numerous, 

 but generally distributed over the low country and mountain sides to at 

 least 5000 feet. 



46. Spinus pinus. Pine Linnet. — On the morning of June 2 I found 

 these Linnets rather numerous near the lower ledge of the balsams on 

 the Black Mountains at an elevation of about 5200 feet. They were not 

 seen above this point, but they doubtless range over the upper portions of 

 these mountains, as well as, probably, other extensive tracts of 'black 

 growth' in the surrounding region. The males were in full song at the 

 time of my visit. 



47. Ammodramus savanarum passerinus. Yellow-winged Sparrow. 

 — In sandy, sorrel-grown fields near Franklin these Sparrows were com- 

 mon and apparently breeding. The species was not seen elsewhere. 



