372 Brxjner and Feild, Birds of Western North Carolina. [july 



tain at an altitude of about 4000 ft. (an adult with a brood of half grown 

 young) and on the south side of Mt. Mitchell at an altitude of 6500 ft. 



The " Pheasant " is found in this state only in the mountains, where it 

 is fast diminishing in numbers, due largely to the fact that it is in most 

 places hunted at all seasons of the year. 



3. Haliseetus leucocephalus leucocephalus. Bald Eagle. — A 

 Bald Eagle was observed several times soaring above the higher points of 

 the Roan Mountain in Mitchell County. We were informed that Eagles 

 were not uncommon in that section and that several had been killed on 

 the mountain. 



4. Sayornis phoebe. Phcebe. — This bird was recorded in Caldwell, 

 Avery, Mitchell, McDowell and Yancey Counties. Although the Phoebe 

 sometimes nests in the central portions of the state, it is a characteristic 

 summer resident only in the mountains, where it is rather common below 

 5000 ft. 



5. Empidonax minimus. Least Flycatcher. — On the south side 

 of Roan INIountain at an altitude of about 4500 ft. this bird seemed to be 

 rather common, especially along Little Rock Creek (where two specimens, 

 an adult and an immature, were secured on July 6). We did not observe 

 it elsewhere. 



6. Corvus corax principalis. Northern Raven. — Two or three 

 of these strange birds were observed on nearly every day of our stay on 

 Grandfather Mountain. A single pair seemed to be residents on Roan 

 Mountain. They were nearly always seen hovering about the highest 

 peaks. The mountaineers informed us that these birds feed largely on 

 carrion, but that they sometimes attack and devour young lambs. (Large 

 flocks of sheep are kept on both Grandfather and Roan Mountains.) 



The Raven is fast becoming one of the state's rarest birds and is now 

 nearly if not entirely confined to the highest mountains. 



7. Junco hyemalis carolinensis. Carolina Junco. — This Junco 

 was found rather commonly in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties at 

 altitudes ranging from about 3000 to 6700 ft. on the summit of Mt. Mitchell. 

 It was one of the few birds which was at all numerous on the summits of 

 the highest mountains. 



Several nests were found, as follows: 



Date Locality Altitude Contents 



June 21 Grandfather Mt. 4200 ft. 3 young well-feathered. 



26 Grandfather Mt. 4000 ft. 3 eggs. 



July 2 Roan Mt. 5300 ft. 3 young just hatched. 



2 Roan Mt. 5750 ft. 2 eggs. 



2 Roan Mt. 6000 ft. 4 young fairly well feathered. 



3 Roan Mt. 6100 ft. 4 eggs. 



4 Roan Mt. 5800 ft. Nest just completed. 



8. Melospiza cinerea melodia. Song Sparrow. — Probably no other 

 bird was met with in so many places and at so many different elevations. 



