"JO Loomis, Slimmer Birds of Pickens County, S. C. [January 



OBSERVATIONS ON SOME OF THE SUMMER 



BIRDS OF THE MOUNTAIN PORTIONS 



OF PICKENS COUNTY, SOUTH 



CAROLINA. 



BY LEVERETT M. J.OOMIS. 



Somewhat over a dozen years ago, having become interested 

 in the birds of the neighborhood of my home, the plan was con- 

 ceived of making an ornithological survey of the State — a sys- 

 tematic study of the avifauna of the various sections exhibiting 

 distinctive physical characteristics. With the progress of my 

 researches in Chester County, it became evident that the Piedmont 

 Belt was an exceptionally inviting field — a veritable terra incog- 

 nita of surprising richness, — and that years of continuous effort 

 should be devoted to its investigation. In consequence all thought 

 of work in the mountainous districts was deferred until the time 

 when further observation appeared to warrant an enlargement of 

 territory. In the early part of July, 1SS6, I made a reconnais- 

 sance of the portions of the mountain region lying in Pickens 

 County in the vicinage of Mt. Pinnacle — the highest point in the 

 State — and the following season I made a second visit of a week 

 beginning June iS, and on June 4, 18S8, a third visit of three 

 days. In 1889 I again continued my investigations, but instead 

 of proceeding, as on former occasions, by rail to the point most 

 convenient to Mt. Pinnacle — Easley, seventeen miles distant — I 

 travelled aci'oss the country with a team of mules and a heavy 

 covered wagon. Accompanied by a young colored man as a 

 helper, I set out from Chester, June 3, and accomplished the 

 journey in four days and a half. The influence of the mountains 

 became early apparent, as I advanced, in the diminishing abun- 

 dance of Mimns polyglottos and in the increasing prominence 

 of Turdits mustclinus, and also by the presence of Pipilo 

 erythrophthalmns near Spartanburgh. I began work on the 

 afternoon of my arrival, June 7, and continued without interrup- 

 tion- until July 2, the time of my departure for home. The sec- 

 ond day after reaching the scene of my labors a long drought 

 which had been prevailing terminated, and, with but few excep- 

 tions, rain fell in some part of every day during my entire stay. 



