i8S6.1 Batchelder, North Carolifia Mountains in Winter. ^OQ 



two Cardinals, or a Towhee, sometimes joined their ranks, prob- 

 ably not because they found such society especially congenial, but 

 rather influenced l^y that gregarious spirit that seems more or less 

 to possess all birds at this season, and I fancy they did not stay 

 long with them. Indeed, all these species often showed a dis- 

 position to separate from each other, and, bound together as they 

 were, chiefly by community of tastes in the matter of food, the 

 make-up of the flocks was constantly changing. 



Another conspicuous bird about these farms was the Carolina 

 Wren. In the thickets along the little streams it was to be seen 

 dodging back and forth ; often the first intimation of its presence 

 was a bit of its song, or a vigorous scolding when its affairs went 

 wrong in any way. 



Most of the land that is not farmed is covered with hard woods, 

 oaks predominating, though there are some large tracts of pine 

 woods {^Pinus inops and P. rigida)^ especially on the hills. In 

 these hard woods Tufted Titmice were generally to be found, 

 usually in small parties of half a dozen or so, and frequently a few 

 Carolina Chickadees with them. White-bellied Nuthatches and 

 an occasional Woodpecker — the Dov^^ny was far the commonest 

 species — were the only other birds sure to be found in these woods, 

 though various others strayed into them occasionally, the Juncos 

 perhaps the most frequently. Indeed these were ubiquitous, for 

 though their favorite feeding-grounds were in the deserted corn- 

 fields and other open places, yet they were often to be seen here, 

 and in the pine woods as well. The Carolina Chickadees and 

 Tufted Tits also frequented the pines, which were the favorite 

 resort of the Golden-crowned Kinglets. They were often in com- 

 pany with the Titmice, though quite as apt to wander about by 

 themselves in little parties of four or five, fiimily parties perhaps, 

 but whether they had come from northern homes to winter 

 here, or had only retreated from the neighboring mountain tops 

 to the shelter of the valle\s, was a puzzling question, and one 

 that arose not only in the case of the Kinglets, but in that of 

 others also of tlie winter visitors. In the pine woods I one day 

 saw two Blue Jays, anJ I mention it because it was the only time 

 I saw them outside of the town. In the town they were evcrv- 

 where to be heard and seen, about the houses and in the gardens, 

 where tliL'y were the most characteristic bird, the only others to 

 dispute their territory being a few Tufted Tits and Carolina 



