194 



THE OOLOGIST. 



Birds of Bertie County, N. C. 



Following Mr. Clute's and otJiers ex- 

 ample, I will endeavor to interest the 

 readers of the OoLOGiST with a descrip- 

 tion of a part of the birds of this county. 



Of the Thrush family the Catbird is 

 the most numeroug, and is only a sum- 

 nu'r residcjit, migrating South in the 

 latti'i- part of September. Tht! Wood 

 Thrush comes next and is quite com- 

 mon during the summer months. The 

 Robin is an abundant winter resident, 

 migrating North when spring opens, 

 to breed. 



The Bluebird is a resident at all times 

 and build their nest in any suital^le 

 place. 



The Blue-gray Gnatcatclier is not 

 very common, and is only a sunuiier 

 resident. This species construct the 

 nicest nest of any bird that it has ever 

 been my lot to tind. 



The Carolina Chickadee is common 

 during the siuumer and breeding season 

 I collected a set of this Chickadee last 

 A]n-il, and the nest was a hole excavat- 

 ed in the dead top of a ])car tree. It 

 contained six eggs but I broke one in 

 trying to get them. 



Of the Nuthatches the Brown-headed 

 is quit common. Indeed, it is the on- 

 ly one that breeds here, I believe. 

 These birds always excavate a hollow 

 for their nest in almost any suitable 

 ])lace; but nearly always in the new 

 grounds when there are any high 

 stnmps. 



The Caroliini Wren take the lead of 

 all the rest of the Wrens in numl)ers 

 al)out heie. Resident. 



Of the Warblers the Hooded Warbler 

 is the oidy one that I know anything 

 about. These birds alwas build tlu'ir 

 nest in the small under-bnshes, and 

 only a fcAv feet from the grcmnd, gen- 

 erally not more th.an three feet. Sum- 

 mer resident. 



Vircos. The Red-eyed Virco is the 

 only representative of these beautiful 



nest makers in this county, I think. 

 Summer resident. 



The Bank Swallow is quite common 

 in the spring during the migration. 

 They are said to breed in the banks 

 along the Albemarle Sound. 



That great pest, the English Sparrow, 

 has not got in this county yet. The 

 most common sparrows in the summer 

 are the Song and Chii)ping Sparrows, 

 and in the winter the Swanij) and Yel- 

 low-winged Sparrows arc very common. 



Crows. The Antcrican and Fish 

 Crows are the only birds of this fami- 

 ly that are seen in this county. They 

 are both numerous. The Fish Crow is 

 a summer resident, while the American 

 Crow is a resident at all times. 



The Meadow Lark is the only Lark 

 here and it is a winter resilient. 



Flycatchers. The Acadian and Crest- 

 ed Flycatchers are common, and mi- 

 grate South on the approach of winter. 



The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is 

 the only of this species that v, e see in 

 our gardens. Common sununer icsi- 

 dent. 



The Chimney Swift is common, build- 

 ing in almost every chimney that it can. 

 Summer resident. 



The Chuck-wills Widow, Whipoor- 

 will and Night HaAvk are all ccnumon. 

 Almost any night in the lireeding season 

 one can hear three or four Chuck-wills 

 Widows at a lime. Summer lesidents. 



The Pileated Woodpecker is common 

 and, is to be mtt with in almost any 

 swamp. The (iolden-winged and 

 Uowny Wood]>eckcrs are the most 

 numei ous residents. 



The Belted Kingtishtn' is to be seen 

 frequently along streams of clear watei-, 

 in which there are ]»lenty of lish. 



The Black and Yellow-billed Cucki.cs 

 are both here in summer. 



Of the Owls, the Barred Owl is the 

 most numerous, although the (rreat and 

 Little Horned Owls ai'e to be met with 

 occasionally. 



Biidsof Prey. The Red-shoulderet'l 



