414 Saunders, Birds of Central Alabama. [oct^ 



most of my observations were made at Woodbine, the period from 

 April 16-May 4, which was in the height of the migration, was 

 spent at Holhns, in Clay County. I also stopped in HolHns on 

 March 7, when on my way to Woodbine. 



The country here, occupying the extreme southern end of the 

 Appalachian Mountains, is very rough and hilly. The elevation 

 is principally from 500-600 feet, but there are one or two long ridges, 

 such as Mt. Weogufka, just south of Woodbine, which have an 

 elevation of from 1000 to 1100 feet. There are many small streams 

 and creeks between the hills, the largest of these in the vicinity of 

 Woodbine being Weogufka and Finigotchki Creeks. These creeks 

 are from 40 to SO feet wide and in most places 4 or 5 feet in depth. 

 The principal forest growth is long-leaf pine (Pinus palustris) which 

 occupies all the hilltops and higher and drier places. This tree, 

 which generally grows on the flat, sandy areas of the coastal plain, 

 at this point in its range extends farther inland and grows on rougher 

 country than at any other place. The creek valleys and swales are 

 occupied by a mixed growth of hardwoods, of such species as cow 

 oak, tulip, red gum, etc. There are no true swamp areas, and no 

 open meadows. A few farms are scattered here and there, forming 

 small open areas in the otherwise unbroken forest. Many of these 

 are at present deserted and slowly growing back to their original 

 wild state. In the vicinity of Hollins most of the pine timber has 

 been cut and there is a much larger per cent, of open country. 



I found this tract of country quite a favorable one for the study 

 of birds. Though the species found were comparatively few, indi- 

 viduals were in large numbers. Water birds and birds of open 

 meadows were almost entirely absent. Species which were resi- 

 dent, either winter or summer, were present in large numbers, but 

 transients were comparatively few. There seemed to be no marked 

 paths of migration and no great flights of birds were observed. 



There are three marked types of country in which birds are 

 found; these are (1) pine forests, (2) hardw^ood forests, and (3) 

 cleared land, second growth, etc. The pine forests are made up 

 principally of a pure stand of long-leaf pine. This forms a very 

 open forest which in most places, on account of the forest fires, is 

 free of undergrowth, but in some places has a thick growth of black- 

 jack and other oaks. The "common breeding birds in this type of 



