I24 Loomis, Summer Birds of Pickens County. $. C. [April 



change is effected in the color of the maxilla, which, however, 

 does not attain the same degree of jet blackness. 



The second complete moult of the year is now finished, and 

 again we have the rollicking Bobolink of our fields and meadows. 



OBSERVATIONS OX SOME OF THE SUMMER 



BIRDS OF THE MOUNTAIN PORTIONS 



OF PICKENS COUNTY, SOUTH 



CAROLINA. 



BY LEVERETT M. LOOMIS. 

 ( Concluded from p. jg.) 



29. Cyanocitta cristata. Blue Jay. — It is remarkable that this bird, 

 in the mountains, seeks a home on the wild and remote summits away 

 from the settlements, while at Pickens Court House, only a dozen miles 

 away, it is a familiar inhabitant of the shade trees of the streets and door- 

 yards. 



30. Corvus corax ? Raven. — The Ravens of this district are 



eminently birds of the mountain tops, venturing into the settled val- 

 leys only during brief excursions in search of food. They are said to descend 

 to these lower grounds to feed on carrion more freely in winter than in 

 summer. Their more frequent presence at the former season is ascribed 

 to increased scarcity in the food-supply, but probably they are actually 

 more abundant, re-enforcements coming from the higher points of North 

 Carolina. Whenever the chance offers, their nests are broken up and the 

 young destroyed, but in spite of persecution they continue to hold their 

 own, and may justly be ranked as tolerably common. (See also Auk. VI, 

 277.) 



31. Corvus americanus. American Crow. — Occurs as commonly 

 here as elsewhere in the up-country during summer. 



32. Spinus tristis. American Goldfinch. 'Lettuce-bird.' — Rather 

 common, especially in the Oolenoy Vallev. 



33. Spizella socialis. Chipping Sparrow. — A very common song- 

 ster in suitable situations. On Mt. Pinnacle its range extends along the 

 barren ridges, among scattered pines, to the heavy hardwood growth 

 crowning the summit. 



34. ,Spizella pusilla. Field Sparrow. — In the Oolenoy Valley these 

 Sparrows are very common, but on the heights above they are sparingly 

 distributed, being limited to the clearings. Their musical efforts exhib- 

 ited the peculiarities characteristic of the species in the lower country. 



