t%o.] Loomis, Summer Birds of Pickens County, S. C. I2G 



61. Geothlypis formosa. Kentucky Warbler. — Indifferent to eleva- 

 tion, these Warblers are everywhere abundant in the wooded hollows, 

 coves, and ravines; these shady retreats constituting their true haunts, 

 though during the cooler hours of the day individuals stray from the near 

 proximity of the water courses to the. sunny slopes of the adjacent hill- 

 sides. During the height of the season they have few rivals in persistency 

 of song, but as June advances, and the young begin to be abroad, they 

 sing with rather less frequency, though not with less force and spirit. 



Besides their loud chant, so commonly uttered, I think they have a second 

 and more pleasing song, but of this I cannot speak with certaintv, as I 

 never succeeded in detecting one in the act of singing, for the song was 

 repeated only at rare intervals, and always in the seclusion of the rhodo- 

 dendrons, but each attempt to discover the author invariably developed a 

 Kentucky Warbler in the spot whence the sound had issued. When 

 their haunts are invaded, they resent intrusion with loud querulous 

 chirps which are as distinctive as their song notes. Though of retiring 

 disposition, especially early in the season, when their young are hatched 

 they often challenge observation by exhibiting themselves with boldness. 

 The first bird of the year was shot June 20. 



62. Geothlypis trichas. Maryland Yellow-throat. — A common 

 songster in June and July in the open bottoms among the willows and 

 other shrubbery fringing the Oolenoy and its tributaries. 



63. Icteria virens. Yellow-breasted Chat; • Mockingbird.' — 

 Abundant, particularly in the Oolenoy Valley, ranging along the moun- 

 tain brooks in the more open places to above 3000 feet. Their presence 

 is always a sure indication of water at the higher levels, and upon more 

 than one occasion have my steps been directed, when thirsty, by their 

 loud notes to spring-heads near the summits. Their eccentric aerial per- 

 formances were noticed as late as the middle of June. 



64. Sylvania mitrata. Hooded Warbler. — At the base of the moun- 

 tains they were very common in the lesser growth of the woods in the 

 neighborhood of branches, straggling upward to about 2500 feet. The 

 males were very prominent singers during each June. It seemed, how- 

 ever, that they sang less frequently the last year on my first arrival than 

 in former years, but with the progress of the rains there appeared to 

 come a revival of song. First young shot June 13. 



65. Mimus polyglottos. Mockingbird. — Through Chester and Union 

 Counties Mockingbirds were abundant along the wayside, constantly- 

 darting down at my bird dog as he trotted ahead of the wagon. As 

 Spartanburgh Court House was approached, from the south, they became 

 less and less numerous. Very few were seen between Spartanburgh and 

 Greenville, though around the suburbs of the latter town they were quite 

 plentiful. The three previous seasons I found them common about 

 Easley, but none were observed nearer the Oolenoy Valley than Pickens 

 Court House. 



66. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. Catbird. — Common about the 

 settlements. Continued in full song through June. 



