38 



Loomis, Summer Birds of Pickens County, S. C. [January 



narily wary, sometimes they appear to lose their caution, I have been in- 

 formed, and several, as if actuated by an overpowering curiosity, will 

 follow a squirrel hunter about from place to place, keeping up such a 

 clamor that he is compelled to resort to his gun to free himself from their 

 annoying attentions. 



17. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Red-headed Woodpecker. — A 

 few were noticed in the Oolenoy Valley. They were more abundant in 

 the lower part of the County away from the mountains. 



18. Melanerpes carolinus. Red-bellied Woodpecker. — The lower 

 elevations seemingly preferred; tolerably common. 



19. Colaptes auratus. Flicker. 'Yellow-hammer.' — I found the 

 Flicker common, ranging from the lower valleys ovew the mountain tops. 



20. Antrostomus vociferus. Whip-poor-will. — In the neighborhood 

 of the house where I stayed the characteristic notes of the Whip-poor-will 

 greeted the ear nightly. It did not appear to be a very common bird, 

 however. 



The Chuck-will's-widow was not heard, but of its occurrence I was 

 well assured. It is known as 'Dutch Whip-poor-will,' and its note's were 

 imitated in such a manner as to leave no doubt in my mind as to the relia- 

 bility of the statements made concerning its presence. It was reported as 

 being rare. 



21. Chordeiles virginianus. Nighthawk. 'Bull-bat.' — Only seen 

 in the lower part of the County. Said to visit the Oolenoy Valley at 

 times. 



22. Chaetura pelagica. Chimney Swift. 'Chimney Sweep.' 'Chim- 

 ney Swallow.' — Common; its distribution uninfluenced by elevation. 

 According to local information, it breeds in chimneys about the settle- 

 ments, and in hollow trees back in the mountains. I spent a day in 

 making a trip to Reedy Cove, expressly to see one of these trees. The 

 tree, a 'poplar,' was a mere living trunk, and stood in the edge of a field 

 on a little brook at the foot of a wooded mountain. It inclined fully 30 

 from a perpendicular, and was about forty feet high and eleven feet in 

 circumference and hollow from the ground upward. The top was broken 

 off, affording an entrance to the hollow within. I learned that it was 

 chiefly a roosting tree, and that the fall was the principal time of 

 the year when it was occupied. Then, at the close of day, I was told, 

 "two or three hundred" would circle around and, at brief intervals, a few 

 would detach themselves from the main body and enter the cavity. At 

 last the whole flock would be settled there for the night. I saw but a 

 single Swift near the place during the time of my visit, midday. 



23. Trochilus colubris. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. — Equally 

 common over the wooded mountains and in the open valleys below. I 

 did npt try the experiment, but it is averred that corn whiskey, with 

 suo-ar dissolved in it, placed in flowers much affected by these little 

 pygmies intoxicates them so effectually that their capture by the hand is 

 rendered an easy matter. 



2 a. Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. 'Bee-bird.' — Not particularly 



