178 



Brewster on the Birds of Western North Carolina. [April 



tains this Kinglet was one of the most numerous and characteristic 'birds. 

 The males were in full song at the time of my visit (June 1,2), but as they 

 kept well up in the tree-tops it was next to impossible to get a sight 

 at one. Indeed, the single specimen which "l shot cost more than an hour's 

 persistent labor. This specimen seems to be identical with northern birds. 

 The song, also, was quite normal. 



98. Polioptila caerulea. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. — -Seen only along 

 the road between Webster and Franklin, and on the outskirts of the latter 

 town, where it was common throughout an extensive tract of post-oak 

 scrub. 



99. Tardus mustelinus. Wood Thrush. — Abundant, and generally 

 distributed, i-anging from the lowest valleys to at least .^500 feet, on the 

 mountain sides, and breeding everywhere, but most numerously in thick- 

 ets of rhododendrons near streams. Two nests, each containing four fresh 

 eggs, were foimd at Highlands; one, May 27, in a cornel {Corniisflorida) ; 

 the other, May 28, in a rhododendron {Rhododendron maximum). 



100. Tardus fuscescens. Wilson's Thrush. — Abundant over the 

 elevated plateau about Highlands, and scarcely less numerous on the Black 

 Mountains, ranging in both localities from about 3500 to 5000 feet. Like 

 the Wood Thrush tliis species haunted, by preference, rhododendron thick- 

 ets along streams, and in many of these tangled retreats it was far more 

 numerous than I have ever seen it at the North. Its call-notes were 

 louder, sharper, and more penetrating than those of our New England 

 bird. The song, also, was clearer, more varied, and altogether finer. 



On the Black Mountains Wilson's Thrushes abounded in the dense 

 evergreen forest of spruces and balsams at, and for a little distance above, 

 5000 feet. Two specimens which I shot here are somewhat larger than 

 New England examples, and decidedly browner. Mr. Boynton has re- 

 peatedly found the nest of this species at Highlands, usually in the top 

 of a fallen tree, sometimes on a mound surrounded by water or springy 

 ground. 



loi. Merula migratoria. American Robin. — Iri-egularly but very 

 generally distributed over the region from the lowest valleys nearly, if not 

 quite, to the summits of the highest mountains. In the low country it 

 was seen only in or near towns, where it had all the familiar habits of our 

 northern bird; but on the sides and tops of the mountains it occurred 

 miles away from any house or clearing, and in the wildest possible places. 

 It was most numerous at Highlands, and on the Black Mountains, between 

 4000 and 5S00 feet. Throughout the entire moimtain region its song and 

 habits seemed to be perfectly normal. A female shot May 27 was laying. 

 This and another specimen (male. May 28) are smaller than northern ex- 

 amples and the throat in both is nearly immaculate. 



102. Sialia sialis. Bluebird. — Common, ranging up to about 4000 

 eet. Although often seen in the wilder portions of this region, it evidently 

 preferred the neighborhood of towns and houses, where, unmolested by 

 the quarrelsome House Sparrow, it bred in boxes put up for its reception 

 and showed all that charming familiarity and confidence which once char- 

 acterizted our New England Bluebird. 



