July 1887.] 



A^D OOLOGIST. 



105 



Bell's Vlreo, (Vireo belli). Common, make 

 their nests in the lower limbs of the smaller 

 growth of bushes among tall, well-shaded thick- 

 ets generally about five feet from the ground. 

 First nest taken April 25th, 1884, four fresh 

 eggs. These are tlie only kinds of birds in this 

 part in whose nests I found tlie eggs of tlie 

 Dwarf Cowbird. 



White-rumped Shrike, (Lanius Indovicianus 

 exciibitoridfs). A few pairs generally noticed 

 about the same spots quite late in the season ; 

 lead me to think they nest here, but I did not 

 find their nests. 



Purple Martin, (Pror/ne snbis). Breed in 

 martin boxes at the ranches. First eggs taken 

 May 17th, 1884. 



(To be Concluded.) 



Winter Food of Birds in the South. 



BY C. S. BRIMLEY, RALEIGH, N. C. 



The mainstay of most of our birds during the 

 winter is mainly berries and seeds of various 

 kinds; some kinds of berries, however, being 

 greatly preferred to any others. The two fa- 

 vorite kinds being the berries of White Dog- 

 wood (Cornus florida), and the little Frost 

 Grapes; on the other hand the Red Haws 

 {Crataegus)., and tlie Swamp Dogwood (Cornus 

 sencia)., do not seem to be meddled witli at all; 

 at anj' rate not until all other kinds ai-e pretty 

 well used up. In February the hard, uninvit- 

 ing berries of the Sumach appear, to aflx)rd 

 much satisfaction to several species. Robins 

 especially seeming very partial to them, but 

 the most curious fact I have noted this win- 

 ter is the partiality to peanuts, not only of Red- 

 wing and other blackbirds, but also of Yellow- 

 hammers; a flock of which species amounting 

 to several hundred, fed foi* nearly a month on 

 waste peanuts left in the fields after the crop 

 had been gathered in. 



With these few remarks I will now proceed 

 to the consideration of each species separately, 

 commencing with tlie Thrushes : 



Robin, {Merula migratoria) . While with us 

 in October thej^ fed chiefly on Frost Grapes, 

 and when tliey next appeared in January they 

 indulged their appetites on the same fruit un- 

 til they ate them entirely and then turned their 

 attention to Holly and Cedar berries, also those 

 of Hex decidua, a very common shi'ub here. 

 Later on they turned their attention to the 

 Sumach berries, but in March as usual took 

 up their regular habits of eating worms and 

 insects in the open fields everywhere. 



Hermit Thrush, {Hylocichla pallasi). Feeds 

 indiscriminately on all kinds of berries through- 

 out the winter — Dogwood, Frost Grapes, Cedar 

 and Holly being the favorites. 



Bluebird, (Sialia sialis). During October 

 and November this species feeds entirely on 

 Dogwood beri-ies, but after they are all eaten, 

 which generally happens about the first week 

 in December, they don't seem to have any par- 

 ticular preferences until about the new year, 

 when they begin to frequent the open fields, 

 feeding on weeds, seeds and insects. 



The Wrens, Tits, Kinglets, Nuthatches and 

 Brown Creepers feed almost entirely on small 

 insects and pupae which they glean from the 

 bark and twigs of trees; occasionally varying 

 their diet, however, with a few small seeds. 



Pine AV^arbler {Dendra'ca pinus). In October 

 and November they were feeding on Dogwood 

 l)erries witli the Bluebirds; in December and 

 January I only found them in the pine woods, 

 feeding on insects and in February they were 

 feeding on Sumach berries in company with 

 Bluebirds and Robins. 



Yellowrumps, {Dendrceca coronata). Poison 

 oak berries up to about December, Poplar seeds 

 in January and weed seeds a little later, seemed 

 to form its staple diet this year, though it 

 seems quite fond of insects and even in the 

 depth of winter manages to do some flycatch- 

 ing. 



Tit Lark, {Antlius Indovicianus). All I dis- 

 sected this winter but one had been eating in- 

 sects, including among others large grasshop- 

 pers which I should have thought too large for 

 their ability to swallow, as thej' did, nearlj' 

 whole. 



Shore Tjark {Otocoris alpestris). Some two 

 dozen I killed this wiuter had been feeding en- 

 tirely on small seeds of various kinds. 



Cedarbird, (A^npeh's cedroriim). They only 

 occurred in any numbers in January and assist- 

 ed the Robins to clear oft" the Frost Grapes, 

 which task being finished they departed. A 

 few stragglers observed at difterent times were 

 feeding on Persimmons and Dogwood berries. 



Gold Finch, {Chrysomitris tristis). Small 

 seeds seem to constitute its only winter food ; 

 the sweet gum burs furnisliing a plentiful sup- 

 ply all winter. Also feeds on Alder seeds and 

 on weed seeds in the field. 



Pine Finch, ( CJir>jsomitris pinus) . The Sweet 

 Gum seeds apparently constituted its only food 

 this winter, as I never observed it feeding on 

 au3'^tliing else. 



Pui'ple Finch {Carpodacns purp\ireus). In 

 November it assisted the other birds to con- 



