IIO Brewster on the Birds of Western North Carolina. [January 



Both sets of eggs were perfectly fresh, a fact which proves that the bird 

 breeds verj irregularly and probably at least twice in the same season, for 

 I saw young on wing as early as May 29, and on the preceding day was 

 shown a nest which the birds were just finishing. 



51. Peucaea aestivalis bachmani. B\chman's Finch. — A single speci- 

 men, taken at Franklin, was the only one met with. It was singing in 

 an old field grown up to sassafras sprouts. This specimen is in many 

 respects unlike any in my large series from South Carolina. Alabama, 

 Texas, and Illinois. In certain particulars, especially the size and shape 

 of the bill, and the color and markings of the upper parts, it bears a close 

 resemblance to P. arizonce. Probably these peculiarities are individual ; 

 but I note them for the benefit of those who may have an opportunity of 

 examining more material from this region. 



52. Pipilo erythrophthalmus. Red-eyed Towhee. — Generally dis- 

 tributed, but nowhere very common. Its favorite haunts were thickets 

 along wood edges, and brush-grown fences. The song was uniformly 

 unlike that of our New England bird, but it varied so with different indi- 

 viduals and in diff'erent localities that this fact has little significance. I 

 shot only one specimen, a female, which had the irides of the usual deep 

 red, 



53. Cardinalis cardinalis. Cardinal Grosbeak. — Confined to the 

 lower valleys, where it was usually found in thickets along streams. It 

 was nowhere at all numerous ; indeed I rarely saw more than one or two 

 pairs in a single Say. 



54. Habia ludoviciana. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. — I found this 

 species only in the country- about Highlands and on the Black Mountains. 

 In the former locality it ranged from (approximately) 3500 to 4500 feet; in 

 the latter from 3800 to 5000 feet; in both it was far more abundant than I 

 have ever seen it at the North. Its favorite haunts were the open oak 

 woodlands so frequently mentioned in this paper. Throughout these, at all 

 times of the day, I was rarely out of hearing of its voice. The song did 

 not seem to differ from that of our northern bird, but what a superb per- 

 ormance it is whenever heard — so rich, flowing, and withal so tender and 

 plaintive ! I know of no bird-voice more expressive of feeling and senti- 

 ment. 



55. Guiraca caerulea. Blue Grosbeak. — I met with only a single 

 specimen of this species, a female seen June i, in an apple orchard near 

 Asheville. This bird was at one time within a few feet of me, and I have 

 no doubt whatever as to its identity. 



56. Passerina cyanea. Indigo Bird. — Abiindant everywhere, ranging 

 upward to at least 4500 feet. Especially numerous about the edges of pas- 

 tures and other clearings on the mountain sides, but also very generally 

 distributed throughout open woodland. Song and habits normal. 



57. Piranga erythromelas. Scarlet Tanager. — Abundant every- 

 where in hardwood timber and second growth, ranging from the lower 

 valleys nearly or quite to 5000 feet (Black Mountains). The song is nor- 

 mal, the call note chip-ehurr, as in New England, not chip-prairie, as in 

 Southern Illinois. My single specimen shows no peculiarities. 



