^1912 J Brvner AND FEihD, Birds of Western North Carolina 371 



Toe River to the foot of Mount Mitchell (6711 ft.), Yancey County, 

 which was our final goal. We ascended the mountain by way of 

 Steprock Creek, and placed our camp within a hundred yards of 

 the summit. We were on the mountain only two days. It was 

 our desire to remain longer here; but it became necessary for us 

 to end our trip at this time. Twenty-five species were seen on the 

 mountain. One of these, the Black-capped Chickadee, had not 

 been recorded previously on our trip. Other species were the 

 Golden-crowned Kinglet, Wilson's Thrush, Towhee, Scarlet Tan a- 

 ger, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Carolina Junco, Black- 

 throated Green Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, and 

 Ruffed Grouse. 



On leaving Mount Mitchell we went, through Yancey and 

 Buncombe Counties, to Black Mountain station in the latter 

 county. In covering this distance of twenty miles, we crossed the 

 following peaks: Hallback (6403 ft.), Mt. Gibbs (6591 ft.), Cling- 

 mans Peak (6611 ft.). Potato Knob (6419 ft.). Pinnacle (5693 ft.), 

 and several other lower summits. All of these peaks except the 

 last-named lie in the Black Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge. 



We reached Black Mountain Station on July 17, after having 

 been exactly one month in the field and here concluded our ob- 

 servations. 



The total number of species recorded was seventy-eight, not 

 including a Spotted Sandpiper {Actitis macularia) seen in Carter 

 County, Tennessee, a few miles from the North Carolina line 

 (elevation 2800 ft.). Of this number only about twenty could be 

 considered peculiar to the mountain region, the other fifty-nine 

 being found as summer residents to a greater or less extent over 

 the entire state. The following is an annotated list of twenty-three 

 of the more interesting species observed. 



1. Marila affinis. Lesser Scaup Duck. — On June 23 a male and 

 two females of this species were seen on Kawana Lake near Linville in 

 Avery County. The elevation of this lake is about 3700 ft. above sea- 

 level. The time and locality would suggest that these were breeding 

 birds although there are no breeding records for North Carolina. This 

 duck has, however, been seen during the summer in the coastal region and 

 is supposed by some to breed there. 



2. Bonasa umbellus umbellus. Ruffed Grouse. — This well 

 known game bird was noted on only two occasions, on Grandfather Moun- 



