46 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 10-No. 3 



in January and for some time frequents tbe 

 marshes, and does not retire to tlie woods and 

 hedges much liefore March, by the end of which 

 month it is in full phunngc. It leaves early in 

 April. 



The Field Spiirrow, C'li,) and the Chipping 

 Sparrow, (211,) are met with only at intervals in 

 dry Oak woods. Both are mncli more common, 

 I am informed, at some distance inland. 



The Song Sparrow, (331,) common from the 

 middle of Novemher until March. Sings a little 

 in warm misty weather, but without spirit (" as if 

 he had forgotten the tune," says that elbow cousin 

 of mine). 



The Swamp Sparrow, (283,) and Lincoln's 

 Finch, (234,) are only occasional in the Winter. 

 They both seem while with us to seelv the 

 warmest and dryest situations 



Bachman's Finch, (226,) resident but quite rare. 

 I have taken it in every month. Usually in low 

 l)ushes near a swamp. Nests in thick scrably 

 Oaks. 



The Fox Sparrow, (235,) is rare except in the 

 coldest part of the Winter, and then only when 

 the weather is ver}' wet. 



The Black-throated Bunting, (254,) occasional 

 at all seasons. 



The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, (344,) seen once 

 in Spring. 



The Blue Grosbeak, (34(),) breeds very sparsely 

 in the Pine barrens. One of the rarest of our 

 resident birds. 



The Nonpareil, (251,) is very conmion all Sum- 

 mer. Arrives about the last of April, though a 

 few males are often seen much earlier. Indeed, 

 I took a full set of eggs April 28th, 1870, and an- 

 other set the next day. 



The Indigo Finch, (248,) I have seen but once, 

 in April, near the sea beach. 



The Cardinal, (242,) common resident. Raises 

 several broods during the season. 



Chewink, (237,) a common resident, (the White- 

 eyed variety, at least). The Red-eyed variety is 

 only occasional in Winter and Spring. 



The Bobolink, (257,) is occasionally taken in 

 Spring in full breeding plumage. In the Fall 

 they pillage the rice fields in immen.se flocks, and 

 are locally known as " Barley birds." 



The Cow Bunting, (258,) occasional in Winter 

 and Spring. 



The Redwing, (361,) very common in the mi- 

 grations. A few Winter— mostly young males. 

 Many breed; but nuich later than in higher lati- 

 tudes. Called Rice-bird by the natives. 



The Meadow Lark, (363,) plentiful all Winter. 

 A few breed in very dark plumage — occasionally 

 witli a hooked upper mandible. 



The Orchard Oriole, (370,) is very common in 

 the Spring migration, but I have never detected 

 it in tlie Fall. A few may breed, though I have 

 never taken it later than June 31st, 1869. 



The Baltimore Oriole, (271,) seen once in Marcli. 



The Rusty Grackle, (274,) occasionally visits us 

 in flocks during the Winter. 

 ■ The Bob-tailed Grackle, (277,) common resi- 

 dent, but partially retiring in cold weather. Well 

 known as Jack Daw. Breeds in communities in 

 April and May. Two broorls are .sometimes 

 raised. 



The Common Crow, (283,) and Fish Crow, 

 (383,) are both common residents. 



The Blue Jay, (389,) is not at all rare in the 

 country, and very common in Port Royal and 

 Beaufort, frequenting the shade trees. I have 

 known the Florida Jay, (391.) to be taken once or 

 twice on Lady's Island. 



Brief Notes. 



AVh.\t Gin to Use for Collecting.— The 

 collecting season being almost at hand, this is a 

 good time to say a word about collecting weapons. 

 There seems to be a good deal of indeci.sion and 

 question among the active members of the fra- 

 ternity as to the best method of collecting .small 

 birds. After having seen and u.scd .several 

 methods, including, I believe, all the best ones, I 

 have settled contentedly to the use of an eight 

 and a half inch insertion barrel, 32-calibre, full 

 choke. This can be comforfablj^ carried in the 

 coat pocket, makes but little noise, kills Warblers 

 up to twenty yards and yet can be used at eight 

 or ten yards very well. There is a Boston firm 

 that makes such a barrel, but I am using one 

 whicli a local gunsmith bored from a piece of 33 

 calil)re rifle l)arrel, and for practical work it can 

 liardly be excelled. A 33 barrel is too small and 

 will not kill far enough, while a 38 or 44 is un- 

 necessarily large and cannot be used at such close 

 quarters as the smaller bore. The cost of the 

 locally made barrel is |6; I think the Boston firm 

 charge |8, while a Shclton rifle barrel bored 

 smooth is al)out ^10 or |12. 



Gun cleaning is always a bore to the bu.sy or- 

 nithologist. In one pocket of a shooting coat 

 one can carry a strong cord with a bullet on one 

 end and at intervals of about thirty-six inches 

 along the cord pieces of tow large enough to fill 

 the barrels pretty tightly. Using about three to 

 six such tow wads with the third or fourth well 

 greased with vaseline, a single draw through each 

 barrel as one drives home from a shoot, will gen- 

 erally clean the barrels perfectly and is a great 



