i886.] Brewster 07i the Birds of Western North Carolina. I'J'l 



AN ORNITHOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE IN 

 WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. 



( Concluded from p. /12.) 



63. Vireo flavifrons. Yellow-throated Vireo. — ThisVireo was not 

 met with in either Buncombe ov Yancy Counties, but a few were seen 

 about Old Fort, and in Jackson and Macon Counties it was rather common, 

 haunting open oak woodlands from the lower valleys (Franklin) to about 

 4000 feet (Highlands). The song was less rich and full than at the North, 

 but otherwise similar. 



64. Vireo noveboracensis. White-eyed Vireo. — Found onlj in the 

 lower valleys, where it occurred sparingly and at rather wide intervals in 

 thickets bordering streams. 



65. Vireo olivaceus. Red-eyed Vireo. — Common everywhere below 

 4000 feet, but nowhere as abundant as at the North. The song was nor- 

 mal, but the single specimen taken (at Sylva, May 30) differs from any 

 that I have ever seen in lacking the usual ashy of the head and greenish 

 suffusion over the back, the entire upper parts being nearly concolor 

 and of a dull smoky brown. It is possible that a good series of specimens 

 will prove these differences to be characteristic of birds from this region- 



66. Vireo gilvus. Warbling Vireo.— Found only at Old Fort and 

 along the Swannanoa River near Asheville. It was common in both locali- 

 ties, but especially so in the red birches, sycamores, and maples over- 

 hanging the Swannanoa, where three or four were often heard singing in 

 adjoining trees. 



67. Mniotilta varia. Black-and-white Creeper. — Very common in 

 hardwood forests, ranging to at least 4500 feet (near Highlands). Song 

 normal. 



68. Helminthophila chrysoptera. Golden-winged Warbler. — Com- 

 mon in Jackson and Macon Counties, ranging from 2000 to 4100 feet, and 

 haunting open oak woodlands, and second growth on hillsides. In 

 many such tracts it seemed to be the most abundant and characteristic 

 species; in others, apparently similar in every way, it was nearly or quite 

 wanting. The males sang in the tops of the tallest trees and were very 

 shy ; the song is precisely as at the North. I did not find the species in 

 either Buncombe or Yancy Counties. 



69. Compsothlypis americana. Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. — Ir- 

 regularly distributed and common nowhere. I found a few at Old Fort 

 (McDowell County), one on the banks of the French Broad near Asheville, 

 one at Franklin, and several between Franklin and Highlands. All these 

 were in hardwood timber, singing in the tops of the taller trees. I saw 

 none at Highlands, although manj'of the trees there were hung with Usnea 

 'moss.' In the localities where my specimens were found there was 

 neither Usnca nor Tillandsia. 



