insect and immediately return in true Flycatcher 

 style. In 1912 these birds were rare or absent around 

 Aiken until February 10th, for which I can give no 

 explanation, for during other years they were abund- 

 ant throughout the whole season. The Redheaded 

 Woodpeckers are exceedingly tame. The only note 

 heard was a harsh chatter given while climbing a pole 

 or while on the wing. 



FLICKER. Flickers, unlike their relations, the Red- 

 heads, were exceedingly wary and only 

 occasionally were the birds seen and then usually only 

 singly or in pairs. However, their long "kuk-ku" 

 note, which is usually composed of seven of these dou- 

 ble syllables frequently told of their presence and once 

 a flock of ten birds was recorded, undoubtedly com- 

 posed chiefly of transients. 



PHOEBE. The latest spring date on which I re- 

 corded this species at Aiken was the 

 thirtieth of March, when two were observed. The 

 call note of this species of Flycatcher is given either 

 while perching or just after or before. I have never 

 heard it uttered in the middle of the flight. 



*t> j 



BLUE JAY. Varied as I know the notes of the Jay 

 to be, I am sure that he is also a mim- 

 icker, for I have heard him imitate very closely the 

 notes of both of the Yellow-throated Vireo and of 

 the Brown-Headed Nuthatch. Another note given by 

 this Jay was in sound between the ringing of an elec- 

 tric buzz and the chirping of a cricket. These birds 

 are always common, always noisy and in all kinds of 

 places. I associate them more than any other bird 

 with Aiken. 



17 



