iSS6.] Brewster 07t the Birds of Westcyu North Carolina. I^C 



76. Dendroica discolor. Prairie Warbler. — Met with only at Old 

 Fort, where it was common in brush-grown pastures and tracts of young 

 second-growth on hillsides. 



77. Seiurus aurocapillus. Ovenbird. — The open oak woodlands, so 

 prevalent in this region, are in every way adapted to the requirements of 

 the Ovenbird, and throughout them it is one of the commonest and most 

 characteristic summer birds. I did not find it above 4500 feet. 



78. Seiurus motacilla. Large-billed Water-Thrush. — Only four 

 individuals met with, two in rhododendron swamps near Highlands, the 

 others on the banks of the Tuckaseegee River, between East La Porte and 

 Sylva, at an elevation of only 2150 feet. One of the Highlands specimens 

 was found at fully 4500 feet. 



79. Geothlypis formosa. Kentlxky Warbler. — Generally distributed 

 in the valleys and over the mountain sides to about 3500 feet. It was 

 usually found in open woodland about logs or fallen tops, but also occurred 

 in the rhododendrons. In both situations it was an uncommon, incon- 

 spicuous species, oftener heard than seen. 



So. Geothlypis trichas. Maryland Yellow-throat. — Rather com- 

 mon in the lower valleys, especially in thickets near streams or meadows 

 Not seen above 2100 feet. 



81. Icteria virens. Yellow-breasted Chat. — The Chat was abun. 

 dant everywhere in the valleys and over the lower slopes of the mountains- 

 to at least 2200 feet , 



82. Sylvania mitrata. Hooded Warbler. — Found sparingly but very 

 generally in rhododendron thickets along streams, ranging to at least 

 3800 feet. Song normal. 



83. Sylvania canadensis. Canada Flycatcher. — Abundant from 

 about 3000 feet nearly, or quite, to the tops of the highest mountains. 

 Over the lower portions of its range it frequented rhododendron thickets 

 bordering streams, above 5000 feet, the balsam forests. As its vertical 

 distribution extends downward below the upper limits of that of 5. mitrata 

 the two species probably come together in places, although I saw no in- 

 stances of this. At Highlands, June i, 1885, Mr. Boynton found a nest 

 placed "in a grassy spring-bank," and "composed chiefly of old leaf-stems 

 and small roots, lined with fine black roots which resemble hair." It 

 contained four perfectly fresh eggs. 



84. Setophaga ruticilla. American Redstart. — I saw onlv a very 

 few Redstarts — certainly less than a dozen — all in the lower valleys, and 

 the majority among alders along streams. 



85. Mimus polyglottos. Mockingbird. — Confined to the lower 

 valleys, where it is uncommon and very locally distributed. I found it 

 most numerous about Asheville, where at least three or four pairs were 

 seen. 



86. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. Catbird. — One of the most numerous 

 and evenly distributed birds of the region, occurring almost everywhere 

 below 4000 feet. 



87. Harporhynchus rufus. Brown Thrasher. — Much less common 

 than the preceding species, but still frequently met with, especially on 



