iSqi.] Loomis on Bii'ds of Chester Couuty. South Carolina. '[fi'l 



A FURTHER REVIEW OF THE AVIAN FAUNA 

 OF CHESTER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. 



BY LEVERETT M. LOOMIS. 



( Continued from p. ^q. ) 



i86. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus. Brewer's Blackiukd. — As 

 has al reach' been reported (Auk, Vol. IV, Jan., tSSy, p. 76), three males 

 and two females were captured Dec. 9 and 10, 1SS6. These birds were a 

 part of a little troop of over a dozen that were then occupying a field in 

 the outskirts of the town of Chester. The weather at the time was ex- 

 ceedingly rigorous — the opposite of that prevalent the past seasons. 

 None have been observed since. 



1S7. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. Bronzi:d Grackle — At the outset 

 of mj ornithological study it so happened that the Crow Blackbirds taken 

 were typical quiscula. As this was the form ascribed to the region bv 

 the books, a thorough investigation was not then deemed necessary. 

 Subsequently the continued recurrence of birds essentially Western in- 

 duced further inquiry, and the outcome was the discovery of ctneus in 

 November, 1SS7 (Auk, Vol. V, Jan., iSSS, p. 113). Since then, whenever 

 the opportunity has offered, the matter has been diligently followed up, 

 and the result, though perhaps fortuitous, indicates a superiority of num- 

 bers for cenens. While Crow Blackbirds appear in the migrating seasons 

 in vast droves, conveying an impression of extreme abundance, their 

 dispersion is not general. A migration maybe worked through without 

 many being actually met with, although multitudes may be reported from 

 adjoining neighborhoods. As at present advised, the Bronzed Grackles 

 arrive about November i, and during this month their southward migra- 

 tion is at its height. In the depth of winter occasional flocks are seen. 

 Usually they are of small extent. In February the movement northward 

 is in full progress, and it continues on through March. I have no know- 

 ledge of their breeding here. 



149. Calcarius pictus. Smith's Longspur. — Since the one was killed 

 with a stone in December, 1880, a second specimen has been secured. 

 This bird — an adult female — was shot Feb. 9, 18S9. I have several times 

 thought I have seen stray individuals passing overhead, but my acquaint- 

 ance with this species is too limited to speak with certainty. 



64. Ammodramus savannarum passerinus. Grasshopper Sparrow. — 

 While later observations show that this Sparrow occurs in every month 

 of the year, yet it is not truly a 'permanent resident'. The birds of Decem- 

 ber and January are rare stragglers that have tarried behind after mild 

 autumns, or have been tempted from the south, presumably from the 

 lower part of the State, by the clemency of the weather. Ordinarily they 

 appear in force about the beginning of the second week of April, although 



