130 Howell, Summer Birds of Northern Georgia. [April 



County, and Rich Mountain (4081 feet), about ten miles northeast 

 of Ellijay, July 7-8; Young Harris, Towns County, and Brass- 

 town Bald (4768 feet), about five miles southeast of Young Harris, 

 July 10-20. 



Brasstown Bald l is the highest mountain in Georgia 2 and is part 

 of a high ridge marking the boundary line between Union and 

 Towns counties. Continuing southward, this ridge turns west and 

 forms the boundary between Union and Lumpkin counties. 



Practically all of extreme northeastern Georgia (including Gilmer, 

 Fannin, Union, Towns, and Rabun counties) is occupied by a 

 series of high ridges which form the southern end of the Blue Ridge 

 system. In this region are found numbers of peaks over 4000 feet 

 in altitude and several over 4500 feet. Rich Mountain in eastern 

 Gilmer County, and Grassy Mountain in northern Pickens County 

 are parts of the same system, directly continuous with the higher 

 ridges in Fannin and Union counties. Grassy Mountain is the 

 most southern peak reaching an altitude of 3000 feet. South of 

 there the peaks are much lower and mainly isolated. The valleys 

 are mostly narrow, and range in altitude from 1100 feet at Tate to 

 1900 feet at Young Harris. 



The greater part of northern Georgia is included in the Upper 

 Austral Zone (Carolinian area) which covers all mountains less 

 than 3500 feet in altitude, and reaches approximately to that 

 altitude on the higher peaks. Transition Zone (Alleghenian area) 

 is found on the peaks and ridges above 3500 feet and descends 

 somewhat lower than that on cold slopes and in shaded ravines. 

 No pure Canadian Zone exists in this region, although a few 

 Canadian species of mammals and plants occur in a very restricted 

 area at the summit of Brasstown Bald. No spruces or firs are 

 found on these mountains. 



On the lower slopes oaks (numerous species) are the prevailing 



1 Designated as 'Mt. Etna' on the Rand-McNally Map of Georgia ('Mt. Enota' on 

 old sheets of the Geological Survey), and is doubtless the mountain called 'Fodder 

 Bald' by Guyot. It is known simply as 'The Bald' to the residents of the region. 



2 Sitting Bull Mountain (5046 feet), listed under Georgia in Gannett's 'Dictionary 

 of Altitudes,' is higher than Brasstown Bald, but as mapped by the U. S. Geological 

 Survey is in North Carolina. This mountain, I am informed by the U. S. Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey, is one of the southern peaks of the Nantahala Mountains (Lat. 

 35°, Long. 83° 31'). It is the mountain called 'Little Bald' (5030 feet) on the Dah- 

 lonega Quadrangle of the U. S. Geological Survey. 



