36 



Loomis, Summer Birds of Pickens Co/mtv, S- C. [January 



4. Bonasa umbellus. Ruffed Grouse. 'Pheasant.' — The Pheasant 

 is fairly entitled to be ranked as common in this section. It is not con- 

 fined to the mountain tops during the month of June but is found from 

 base to summit, and is not more numerous at the higher elevations than 

 the lower. At this season the mulberry trees are in fruit, and are much 

 resorted to. Two of these trees at the foot of Mt. Pinnacle were visited 

 daily by Pheasants during my stay. At the base of Rich Mountain, in 

 Reedy Cove, I rode up to three that were feeding on wild strawberries in 

 a little cove on the edge of the woods. Huckleberries also form a part of 

 I lair diet at this season, and dogwood berries are said to be a favorite 

 addition to their fare in the autumn. From what I gleaned from hunters, 

 it seems that the wild-cat is the great enemy of the Pheasant. I was in- 

 formed that both old and young were preyed upon, and that a young 

 brood was often totally destroyed. They suffer but little from the gun, 

 as they are not regularlj' pursued as objects of sport. (For previous 

 notice, see 'The Auk,' Vol. Ill, Oct., 1S86, p. 4S3.) 



I did not meet with the Wild Turkey, and, from all accounts, I judge 

 that it is not as abundant as in the lower country. Its increasing scarcity 

 is attributed to the hunters and to the wild-cats. 



5. Zenaidura macroura. Mourning Dove. 'Dove.' — Only tolerabl v 

 common, and noted principally in the cultivated valleys. 



6. Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. 'Buzzard.' — This species is 

 independent of altitude, and is very common over the highest peaks as 

 well as in the lowest valleys. 



7. Catharista atrata. Black Vulture. 'Carrion Crow.' — The 

 Carrion Crow is well known throughout this region, but is not regarded 

 as common. It is seen most frequently, I have been assured, about large 

 carcases. The mountain sides and tops serve as a stock range for the 

 settlements in the valleys, and it not infrequently happens that cattle ven- 

 ture too near the cliffs and lose their footing and fall over, thus furnishing 

 a continual source of supply to the carrion-feeding birds. I did not meet 

 with this Vulture except on one occasion, June 22, when two individuals 

 and a Turkey Buzzard were seen soaring over the valley of the Saluda, as 

 I sat on the verge of the precipice at Table Rock. In their gyrations they 

 finally drew near, and skirted along the face of the cliff on a level with the 

 place where I was sitting. 



The Swallow-tailed Kite (Ela/ioides forficatus) is a summer visitant at 

 times in the Oolenoy and other valleys. I did not ascertain, however, 

 whether it was known to breed. Aug. 6, two were shot, a friend writes, 

 on Little Estatoe Creek, three miles west of Mt. Pinnacle. The tail of one 

 of the specimens was forwarded to me at Chester for examination. 



8. Accipiter cooperi. Cooper's Hawk. 'Chicken Hawk.' 'Blue- 

 tailed Hawk.' — About the settlements, apparently as plentiful as else- 

 where in the State. During the latter part of my last visit one harassed 

 the chickens daily at the house where I was stopping. 



9. Buteo borealis. Red-tailed Hawk. — Rather common and gen- 

 erally distributed. 



