Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 203 



(Nyssa aquatica) and confines itself to the swamps, rarely visiting 

 settlements until the beginning of February, which is the month 

 when most of the birds are to be observed. During this month 

 the birds literally swarm where the wild orange (Prunus Caro- 

 liniana) and pride of India (Melia azedarach) grow in numbers 

 near settlements. 



The greatest resort for Robins between 1878 and 1883 was in 

 the grounds of Mr. Hatch a few miles north of Charleston. This 

 place was thickly covered with large trees of the wild orange and 

 pride of India, and when there was a large crop of berries, the 

 Robins frequented the place in countless thousands. I well re- 

 member the enormous numbers of birds shot for food (Robin pies) 

 by men from Charleston who had access to the grounds. Among 

 the great flocks of Robins, multitudes of Cedar-birds also fre- 

 quented the place, and they fell victims by the thousands during 

 the month of February and early part of March. These great 

 flocks were migrating birds that had wintered to the southward 

 of South Carolina and were en route to the north, for days would 

 pass before another flight appeared. In the neighborhood of 

 Charleston a few birds remain until April 20, which must be 

 regarded as the regular limit of their sojourn, but a belated ex- 

 ample was noted as late as May 2. 



The Robin which breeds in the interior of this state, as well as in 

 Georgia and North Carolina, has been separated as a distinct 

 form from true migratoria, with the name achrustera applied to it. 

 Although this race has been accepted by the committee of the 

 American Ornithologists' Union as a valid one, I cannot detect 

 any difference between specimens taken in the south and those 

 of the north. 



The Robin breeds abundantly in the grounds of Furman Uni- 

 versity, Greenville, as well as elsewhere in the interior of the State 

 and northward to the Arctic regions. 



309. Sialia sialis (Linn.). Bluebird. 



This familiar species is a permanent resident and breeds abund- 

 antly in settled districts as well as in the interior of large tracts of 

 pine and oak woods. During the breeding season the birds are 

 dependent upon woodpecker holes or natural cavities of trees in 

 which to place their nests, and are hence wanting in most culti- 

 vated places which are destitute of dead or decaying trees. 



