[Vol. 11-No. 8 



116 
editions of their works. The altitude of the re- 
gion presents the usual variable characteristics of 
uneven and mountainous country, and the few 
observations noted on that subject will be given 

in connection with the following notes as a phe- | 
nomena with bearings upon the bird life. 
A large growth of hard wood trees cover the 
mountains except on the summits of the higher 
ranges; here the evergreen asserts its right, the 
“black woods” of the natives. The valleys, 
owing to the abundance of streams, are well cov- 
ered with a luxuriant growth and great variety 
of trees, chiefly deciduous. 
It is with considerable diffidence I present my 
observations, for in many cases they will conflict 
with those published by my predecessor in west- 
ern North Carolina, and therefore will be subject 
to peculiar criticism. The country is well known 
to me, the summit of Bald Mountain could be 
seen from my early home “before the war.” 
Contrary to the usual modus operandi of pub- 
lishing observations of a number of species, I do 
not present my notes as a list or in ‘‘catalogue 
order,” but giving the history of a species with 
nearly complete field notes as possible, regardless 
of its occurrence in any nomenclature as regards 
numbers, and in so doing I find I establish no 
precedence. The nomenclature of classification 
is that of the A. O. U. publication. 
DENDROICA BLCKBURNL®. 
Blackburnian Warbler. 
This beautiful little Warbler arrived in Monroe 
county on April 22d, that being the date of first 
observation ; on the following day they were seen 
quite commonly. These birds were noticed only 
along the edges of the open fields, some distance 
back from the mountains, and in company 
with Chestnut-sided and Yellow Warblers. . Up 
to May 3d, I saw them only in such places, when 
on that date I observed a single one in the mixed 
growth of oak and chestnut on the mountain 
sides. During the first week in May they were 
very common, but ahout May 10th they dimin- 
ished in numbers, and by the 15th not one could 
be found in an entire day’s tramp. On the 18th 
a severe rain storm accompanied by a cold north- 
vast wind occurred, and on the following morn- 
ing a few were scen gleaning insects in the devel- 
oping foliage of the water oaks (Quercus aquatica) 
and a number were seen in the oak forests on the 
mountains, but by night they had disappeared 
and none were seen the next day. An ascent of 
Smoky Mountain, in Blount county, on May 25th, 
discovered to me this handsome Warbler in full 
numbers, They were principally met with at 
about 3,000 feet altitude on the dividing line be- 
tween the spruce (Abies nigra) and the deciduous 
ORNITHOLOGIST 
trees, and which gave an equality of the two va- 
rieties. Proceeding still further up, I found a 
few birds of this species, but the majority seemed 
to prefer an admixture of the hard wood growth. 
At Roane county, in the Walden ridge, this 
Warbler was found to select the spruce growth 
at a higher altitude than on Great Smoky Moun- 
tain; perhaps the southern slope of Walden ne- 
cessitated a higher rise to equal the same temper- 
ature of the northern exposure of the Great 
Smoky chain. The movements of the Black- 
burnian Warbler define quite plainly the faunal 
lines of this country. The three faunz so well 
known to New England or Eastern North Amer- 
ica, the Canadian, Alleghanian and Carolinian, 
give to this region all of their distinctive features; 
the extreme mountain heights representing the 
Canadian, the Alleghanian from about 4,000 feet 
altitude down to the Carolinian, which meets it 
at about 2,000 feet. Mr. Brewster gives altitudes _ 
at about 500 feet higher in each instance, in his 
observations in North Carolina, but the localities 
must vary as the figures given above are correct 
for this region, as great care was taken in de- 
termining the faunal lines. 
Several readings of the thermometer were 
taken at various heights. On May 21st, in the 
valley, the mean temperature was 48°. May 22d, 
at about 2,500 feet, the mean was recorded at 42°, 
and at 4,000 feet the mean was 38°. Less varia- 
tion was noted at the latter height, the mercury 
not rising higher than 44°, while in the valley 
60° and 36° were the extremes on May 2ist. The 
especial value of the above thermosatic notes in 
determining the relative temperature comes from 
the fact that in the valley the thermometer was 
the same on all three days, viz., 60° as a mean 
record. I found the Blackburnian Warbler a 
true type of the Canadian fauna, hence the above 
notes in connection with it. The Blackburnian 
Warbler despite the fact of keeping in nearly 
similar surroundings, breeds earlier than those of 
same species which penetrate farther north. A 
nest was found by my cousin, who accompanied 
me, on May 31st. It was placed on the horizon- 
tal limb of a fir (Adies fraser’) and not so compact 
as one found by Mr. F. H. Carpenter at Mount 
Bigelow, Maine. It was almost as flimsy as that 
of the Chestnut-sided Warbler, and contained 
only one egg. The female sat upon the edge of 
the nest and would not leave it until the out- 
stretched hand was within a few inches. Upon 
leaving it undisturbed she immediately resumed 
her former position and in a few moments the 
male brought a larger specimen of Hphemeride, 
which they both were obliged to industriously 
visect in order to swallow. 
