iSgJ.l LooMis on South Carolina Birds. 325 



measurement — to the precipice on tlie former is said to he hut 

 Hve and a quarter miles, though ciuite a day's journey hy moun- 

 tain roads. At the foot of the Head arc the Dismal Mountains, 

 or Dismals — ridges in a sort of hasin, surrounded on all sides hy 

 mountains, except the south, where Mather's Creek escapes to 

 join the South Saluda. Owing to its sheltered situation and 

 southern exposure the place is noted for heing the warmest spot 

 about the mountains. In cold weather it is a favorite resort for 

 cattle. 



The mountains of this immediate region are forest-clad from 

 base to summit. The growth is almost entirely deciduous. At 

 the top of Caesar's Head, particularly on the ridges, the trees do 

 not attain great size. On the sides, however, there is much fine 

 timber. The chestnut is perhaps the most characteristic tree of 

 the region. Toward the end of June it was in full bloom, and 

 a fair idea of its abundance could be had from the overlooking 

 heights — the patches of yellowish appearing in marked contrast 

 with the dark green of the other foliage. On the Middle Saluda 

 there are considerable groups of hemlocks, but only an occa- 

 sional one is to be found in the hollows at the summit. Unlike 

 the rare Tsuga caroliniana. it is confined to the streams. The 

 former occurred on two of the cliffs growing in the scanty soil 

 on the very verge. On the summit the kalmia was in full bloom 

 on my arrival, but the rhododendron did not blossom until nearly 

 a month later, though in flower at the foot. Huckleberries, 

 which abound on many of the ridges, began to ripen after the 

 middle of June. Owing to the custom of periodically burning 

 off' these mountains to afford range for stock to the settlements 

 below, the woods in many places present a park-like appearance, 

 often so free from undergrowth as to suggest their having been 

 thinned by the axe. That the pasturage is good is abundantly 

 shown in the sleek red cattle, their Devon ancestry being apparent 

 at a glance. There are only a few clearings— little patches, now 

 or formerly tilled, in miles of unbroken forest. Around the hotel 

 there are about twenty acres of open ground, in lawn, garden, 

 and pasture. The hotel was established in 1837, and has since 

 been the most noted mountain resort in the State. 



Of the collateral fauna I have little of relevance to record. 

 The chickaree, known hereabouts as the 'mountain boomer, 

 was not met with, and my inquiries with regard to it uni- 



