May U, 1883.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



323 



Jfc/w/a/ B$torg. 



NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF ALABAMA. 



r.v A. M. TS. 



DUR1KG the summers of 1880 and lss| [ was afforded 

 exceUeni opportunities for observing the birds of Ala- 

 bama, the first: season being spent mostly in the north :ind 

 the second in Montgomery county, i thus had a chance to 

 see something of the avi-fauna of the two extremes, and the 

 following rough notes are tin 1 result of my obsei' 

 Through the information of friends 1 have been aide to add 

 some remark* on the winter species. 



Wood Thrush— UylocicMa muskliwh— Common in the 

 mountains of the north; not common south of Birming- 

 ham. 



Robin — Tardus, migratorim.— Vary abundant m winter; 

 rather uncommon dining the summer. A nest and four 

 were found in Montgomery iu 187!). 

 " Brown Thrush— BarporhyTwhus rufus.— Common through- 

 out the State. Pound breeding in the north during the 

 month of June. Local name sandy mocking-bird. 



Mocking-bird— J///;/;/.- /«'.'.'/.'//<'«»*.— Every where very abun- 

 lant. Found breeding in the north in June. A favorite 

 " l the thick mock-orange bushes. 

 complement. 



•;. — Abundant. Pound 

 as late as July 1. 

 -Common. Young very abundant 



dant. 



position for the nesl 

 Three to six eggs ton 



Catbird --'•■•■ 

 breeding mar Birmin 



Bluebird— &a& 8> 

 in June. 



Blue-gray Gnat-Catchers— Poliepttta ere rukn .—Common 

 everywhere, but most abundant in the lowlands of the south. 

 Several nests found on Lookout Mountain. The gum tree is a 

 Favorite building site. 



Tufted Titmouse— Lophophmus bicolor. — Occasionally met 

 with throughout the State. 



Southern Titmouse — Pant* atoicQpiUus, var. carolincnsis. — 

 First met with on the southern slopes of Lookout Mountain 

 it was quite abundant, and at that time (June) gregarious; 

 rare in the south. It very much resembles the black capped 

 titmouse. 



Brown-headed Nuthatch — Siftu jmsilia.— Only one speci- 

 men observed during two summers, and think that it is quite 

 rare. The specimen I have referred to was seen near Bir- 

 mingham. 



i. arolina Wren — ThryoUiorus ludoricii.tn us. — Occasionally 

 seen throughout the State: young birds obtained near Mont- 

 gomerv in July, 



House Wren — Troglodytes atdon. — Most, common in the 

 north, but met wiili throughout the Slate; breeds. 



Black and While Creeping Warbler — MniOtiUa vavia. — 

 Even-where abundant; breeds. 



Blile Yellow-backed Warbler— V Moris antericana.—Say- 

 eral specimens obtained near Montgomery; none seen else- 

 where. 



Prothonotary Warbler— Protonotarm eitrea.— Sparingly 

 met with in the swamps south of Montgomery. 



Tennessee Warbler— Hclminthophaga. pea-egrina.— -Several 

 males obtained in the extreme north; not seen else- 

 where. 



Summer Warbler — Dcndraca asli.ru. — Everywhere com- 

 mon; breeds. 



Prairie Warbler — D< nd.rrmi discolor. — Extremely abundant 



differ greatly, some being of a dark chocolate, color and 

 others of a light brown. 



Bobolink—. ft.'Wwii// oryrirorus.— Most abundant iu the 

 north, but. occasionally seen tliroughout the Stale. During 

 the winter they are found in vast numbers ill the south. 

 Local name, reed bird ; breeds. 



Cow Bird— .W'lothrus atcr.— Occasionally seen throughout 

 the Slate; no record of its breeding. 



Red-winged Blackbird. —Agchvus plocuice.us.— Common in 

 the north: not found in any numbers south of Birmingham; 

 breeds. 



Meadow Lark—Stu rneHa magna— Uncommon in summer; 

 very plentiful in winter. 



Baltimore Oriole— Icterux battftnore.— Occasionally seen ; 

 by no means common. 



"Orchard Oriole — Icterus spinous. — Everywhere abundant; 

 many nests and young found near Montgomery in June. A 

 curious instance' of Ibis species nesting in a martin box came 

 under my notice. The young are ground-feeders in sum 

 nier. 



Crow Blackbird— Quisculus purpura/*.-- Common iu the 

 north; rather uncommon in the south; breeds in the north. 

 Found everywhere in the winter. 



Crow — Corpus <imariainu&. — Kot often seen south of 

 Birmingham; common in the north. Abundant in winter. 



Blue Jay — Cyaimrm rristatiis.— Vety abundant. Breeds 



in the pine woods. 



Kingbird— Tvrmin>>* at m!i, maris. — Everywhere common; 

 breeds. 



Great Crested FTy-Catcher— Myiarchus erinUm.— Every- 

 where very abundant. I found it in great numbers in the 

 cypress wamps of the south. 



Pewee — ^ayornisfuscus. — Common; breeds. 



WoodPewee— Contopns draw— Occasionally seen in the 

 north; not observed in Montgomery county, though I w T as 

 shown numerous eggs collected in the viciniiy. 



Whippoonvill — Antrostouuis r,>cifirus. — Occasionally seen 

 in the l hick woods. Breeds near Montgomery, 



Night Hawk— Chord, iks rirginianus.— Everywhere very 

 abundant; about the last of August they are in fine condi- 'SSSftta «h 

 lion and afford much sport to the hunting community: 

 known tliroughout the south as the "bull bat;'' breeds. 



Chimnev Swift — Chatu.ru petusi/ka. — Abundant; breeds. 



Rubv-ttiroated Humming Bird — Trochikts coliibris.— 

 Plentiful ; breeds. The terror of hawks and crows. 



Belted Kingfisher— Cerg'c utcyon. — Common; breeds. 



Yellow-billed Cuckoo — Corryzus iimcricanus.— Sparingly 

 met with all through the State. Locally known as the '•rain 

 crow;" breeds. 



Black-billed Cuckoo— Coccyr.us crythrophth.almus.— One 

 specimen, a young male, obtained about fifteen miles south 

 of Montgomery; the only one of the species seen. 



i in .-hi fvory-bflled Woodpecker — Campcphilus principalis. 

 —Common in the mountainous region of the north. Local 



th 



thre 

 plac 



grca 



(b 

 allv 



t the State, frequenting pine woods. A nest and 

 ires found in the extreme north in June. It was 

 on an elder branch overhanging a small stream, and 

 reset fbl< 6" that of the summer warbler, 

 [en-crowned Thrush— Si-vrus aurimpillus.— Occasion- 

 en in the north. 



Water Thrush — Siurus. nariiis. — Everywhere common, 

 especially iu Montgomery county, where it breeds in great 

 numbers' in the swamps. 



Maryland Yellow-throat. — Gcothlypis trichas. — One speci- 

 men seen a few miles north of Montgomery; nowhere else 

 observed. 



Yellow-breasted Chat — Tckria circus. — Everywhere abun- 

 dant. Near Montgomery nests and eggs were found as late 

 asHuly 1. Local name, French mocking-bird. 



Redstart— Sctophaya rutirilki.—R&velj met with; one 

 specimen seen in the north. 



Scarlet Tauager — Pyranga rubra* — Occasionally seen in 

 Montgomery county. 



Summer "Red Bird — Pyra nga mtim. — Everywhere very 

 abundant ; in the extreme south the}' are even more numer- 

 ous than the cardinal grosbeak. Strange to say, I found no 

 nests, nor could 1 hear of any, though the young birds, in 

 their varied plumage, were very plentiful in June and July. 

 I frequently noticed these birds darting after flying insects 

 in the manner of the flycatchers. 



Barn Swallow — Riru ado crytlirogastra. — Everywhere com- 

 mon, nowhere very abundant. 



White-bellied Swallow— Ihehycmeta bfa/lor. —Occasion- 

 ally seen on the Alabama River. 



Bauk Swallow — Cotyk ripariu. — Common; breeds. 



Purple Martin— Brogue subis —Most abundant of the 

 family; breed in colonies in bird houses erected for the pur- 

 pose. Nesting season. May. 



Red-eyed Xhvo—Yiivosylria olimc 

 with throughout the State; only sp 



•a. — Occasionally met 

 cies of the family ob- 



ludofkiuu us. — Common north 

 rung birds found near Mont- 



served; breeds. 



Loggerhead Shrike — La 

 and south; a uesl and thri 

 goiuery in June. 



Field Sparrow — SpkeUn pusilla. — Abundant; eggs col- 

 lected in the north in Juue, and near Montgomery as late as 

 July 4. 



Chipping Sparrow— Spizt.lh mci.ui.is.— Common; breeds. 



Snug Sparrow— Ut lo&piza miiodin.. — Abundant; breeds. 



Swamp Sparrow— M&ospka puhudrk, — Common in 

 swamps; breeds. 



Yellow Bird — C/iry.ymitris Iristis. — Common. 



Snow Bird — Tuaco hyci/iulis. — Common in winter; ob- 

 served during the. winter of 1875-*76. 



Blue Grosbeak — Guinea caruka. — Common in the swamps 

 of the south. Nest and young found near Montgomery in 

 June. This is one of the most beautiful of our "Southern 

 birds. 



Indigo Bird — Cyunospim cymica. — Abundant; breeds. 



This is a most persistent s 

 high branch and enduring 

 has long since driven all o 

 Painted Bunting — Cyan 

 Cardinal Grosbeak— Cm 

 very abundant; many nesl 



vitk i 



r.l 1 



ning perched on some 



iiM 1 1- ,i e the heat, which 

 fe into the shade. 

 — Rarely seen. 



iiu.s.— Everywhere 



Identified. It wtis a young male and had probably strayed 



up from the coast. 



Pied-billed Grebe— PodUymbUS podli ■ ,;.<-'. —Common ; fre- 

 quents the ponds throughout the State. 



OHIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



^HE fourth volume of the Ohio Geological Survey pur- 

 J_ ports to be devoted to the Zoology and Botany of the 

 State, but as a matter of fact includes only the Vertebrates. 

 The report on the mammalia is by A. W. Bray Ion; that on 

 the birds by I'r, J. M. Wheaton ; the reptiles and amphi- 

 bians are treated by Dr. W. H. Smith, ami the fishes by 

 Prof. Jordan. The report on the mammals contains noth- 

 iiilj ' -" .-ially new. We are, it is true, occasionally BUT* 

 prised by a statement like the one on page 13: "It is scarcely 

 likely that, any [wild cats [Lyn.r rufus)] "remain [in Ohio] to 

 the present time;" but such errors are usually collected fur- 

 ther on iu the report. The curious statement that the 

 badger "is very abundant," presumably in Ohio, since the 

 paragraph is not in quotation marks, is to be explained, per- 

 haps, on the ground that the report in fact is largely a com- 

 pilation from the works of previous writers, and contains 

 little or nothing that cannot he found elsewhere. 



The report on the birds is a much more satisfactory pro 

 duction. The introduction treats of the topography of the 

 State and its climatic peculiarities, and touches also upon 

 the laws of latitudinal variation, a subject which receives 

 fuller attention further on (Appendix [E]); the uomeuela 

 lure employed is that of Dr. Coues's "Key to North 

 American Birds," only moditied by i 



The arrangement of the ord 

 I he same work. 



A description is given of e 

 its habitat, date of arrival and 

 very full notes on the bal 

 too" are written in an extr 

 delightful reading. It is 

 erable number of the poir. 

 port. W 



lal groups is al 

 oh species of hi 



i from 



1 mentioned, 

 nigrant, and 



:S. I I... be notes, 

 vie, and are really 

 ide to any consid- 

 ch come up con- 

 notice that the 



nan 



lode. 



Hairy Woodpecker— I'icus mllosus. — Several specimens 

 obtained in the north, and it is probably found throughout 

 the State, though f did not notice it in the south. Local 

 name, "sap-sucker. " 



Downy Woodpecker — Picas pubesccas. — Everywhere abun- 

 dant, especially iu the pine woods of the south. Locally 

 known as the "little sap-sucker." 



Red-bellied Woodpecker— Genturus carotiuus.— One speci- 

 men obtained near Birmingham. 



Red-headed W' oodpecker — Mriamrrpcs cri/thronplutlus. — 

 Very abundant. A favorite -breeding place is in the dead 



ees in the midst of the cotton fields. I have counted as 



any as four nests in one of these trees. 



Golden-winged Woodpecker — Colap/esauratus. — Sparingly 

 met with throughout the State; abundant in winter* Local 

 iame, "yellow hammer." 



Barred Owl — Syriiium ci/nrcnm — Common near Mont- 

 gomery; breeds in the pine woods about the city. T ob- 

 tained* many specimens of this tine bird, one of* which I 

 kept alive for some time. It was perfectly blind during the 

 day. 



Red Owl — .Scops usio. — Common. 



Pigeon Hawk — Fako columhurius — Seen in considerable 

 numbers throughout the State. 



Sparrow Hawk — Fako sparcerim, — Common; breeds. 



Sharp-shinned Hawk — Accipiler fuscus. — Occasionally 

 seen iu the north. 



Cooper's Hawk — Accipikr cooperi. — Common; breeds. 



Bald Eagle — Haliatus kvcocephalus. — Occasionally found 

 among the mountains of the north; said to breed on Look- 

 out .Mountain. 



Turkey Buzzard — RMiwgryphus aura. — Everywhere abun- 

 dant, acting as scavengers. Instances are reported of then- 

 having attacked young lanibs and sickly sheep; breeds in 

 great numbers on Lookout Mountain. 



' Black Vulture — Cotharistu airalu. — Often seen, gener- 

 ally in the south ; by no means so abundant- as the preced- 

 ing species; breeds. 



Carolina Dove — Zcnaiduru. caroUnensis.— Abundant. About 

 the last of July the young are in prime condition for the 

 tabic and are much hunted. 



Wild Turkey — 3/,: hugris gidlopuro. — Common; breeds. 



Ruffed Grouse — Bonasu umbdlus. — Found iu consider- 

 able numbers in the northern mountains. Local name, 

 "pheasant." 



Virginia Quail — Oi'ti/.r 

 abundant; breeds. 



Kildeer Plover— ^giaM, 



Spotted Sandpiper— r 

 along the banks of streams. T. 



Great Blue Heron— Ardeahe. 

 is very abundant, especially 



■'jiitiattus. — Eveiywhere very 



ictfenis, — Common ; breeds, 

 •rides macula rius. — Common 

 Ertjpal name "tip up." 

 idn.is. — This splendid species 

 the south; breeds in the 



cvpress swamps of Montgomery county. Locally known as 

 Ihe "crane." 



Little White Egret — Garzetta caiididissiiint. — Common in 

 the south; not observed north of Birmingham. Associates 

 with F. cifriitcii. 



Little Bine Heron — Florida, cu-rutca.— Abundant north and 

 south; breeds. 



Green Heron — Butorides rircsceiiH. — Commou; breed 



"Night Heron — Nye^ardiu grisea. — Common ; breeds. 



Bittern— Bi'tiiurus minor. — Hot common. One specimen 

 obtained iu the south; breeds. 



Mallard — Anas hoscas. — Occasionally seen: abundant in 

 winter. • 



Summer Duck — Ail! sponsii. — Common; breeds in the 

 swamps of Montgomery county. 



Blown Pelican— PrfirMnus 'fuscus. — Rather rare. A fine 

 " a Was shot in the north by a gentleman of my ac- 

 quaintance. 



Least Tern — SteMta SUp^rMUans. — Two specimens seen in 



kylaik is givenas breeding sparingly in the vicinity of Gin- 

 linnati. Thev are said to have been e.vt'i initiated on Long- 

 Island in this State, but Mr. Edmund Orgill, of Brooklyn, 

 believes that a few may still be found there. Dr. Wheaton 

 notes nine specimens of Bcndroya hirt/undi known up to 

 date of writing, and Dr. E C. Sterling informs us that up to 

 the present year (1883) eleven specimens have come within 

 his observation. The Carolina paroquet is noted as an 

 occasional visitor, and the black vulture ( C. atrata) has been 

 taken. The extended account of tie habits of ' 

 ■ - extremely interesting. Tbj© ruff (PhBomMkut 



,.,,.,. i j once been taken in Ohio. The white pelican 

 | P. fco-hiir/ii/io'/ius) occurs occasionally. 

 In his appendix to his report Dr. Wheaton gives a. check 



if Kiduway's 

 This eon- 

 tics and two in- 

 iesand varieties; 



'this list gives 

 very useful adtli- 

 ky_ of Ohio orni- 

 atiturlc and Ihe 

 try of Technical 



eggs of this species I Montgomery county, one of which I obtained and carefully 



list of Ohio birds, adopting the nomenclature 

 check list (Government Printing Office, 1881 



tains 892 species with four additional varieties 

 troduced species, giving a total of 298 species 

 ,'! ill,-., six are considered as accidental. 'I 

 also the dates of the arri\als of migrants, a vei 

 tion. There is also an excellent bibliogr 

 thology. a paper ou the Relation between 

 Pattern of Coloration in Birds, and a Glo; 

 Terms used in the Report. » 



The list of repfffes and amphibians includes thirly-six 

 species of the former and twenty -rive of the latter. The in- 

 troduction is interesting and the notes on the species full. 

 Only three venomous reptiles, two rattlesnakes and the cop- 

 perhead, are found within the State, There are three liz- 

 ards and thirteen tortoises in Hie list, The following 

 species are given as rare: PHyo/i/iys inrimwU ucus, Ophiho- 

 lus catligasUr. 0. doHatus, Culuhcr obsoWHS, ( 'ycbiph is irsticus. 

 1 '■/,- puiictutus and Carphophis amauhUx. 



The report ou the fishes by Prof. Jordan is, as mighl have 

 been expected, iu all respect's admirable and needs no criti- 

 cism or comment. One hundred and sixty-three species arc 

 enumerated, and of these forty are characteristic of the lake 

 fauna, and sixt3'-seven of that of the Ohio, the remainder 

 being common to both. 



The report abounds in typographical errors, for which 

 there is really no excuse, but very much of the material con- 

 tained in it is extremely interesting. 



DuCK Hawk. — Tliis very beautiful hawk is rather a rare 

 bird. Although it breeds ou Talcott Mountain. Conn , and 

 Mounts Tom, Holyoke, and Toby, Mass., I have heard 

 of but one pair breeding iu any of the aliove places, except 

 Mount Toby, and that was two years ago. They were quite 

 plenty fifteen years ago, but being robbed of their eggs, 

 young, and shot, there are now 

 section of New England. Willia 

 Mass. , had one caged for two 

 his jet black eyes aud winsome 

 most interesting pets 1 ever saw, 

 hours, and his every movement 

 him a piece of meat "aud he woulc 

 strike, the bottom of the cage. D 

 kept three for quite a long time, I 

 one. of their number. The pah 

 Spencer P. Baird, who prized tl: 

 do not build any nests, but lay thci 

 And they are quite sure to lay their ej 

 are most" difficult places for man to gt 

 were sought for, anybody could fi 

 would fly to it, and keep up a scream u 

 of sight." The young, when hatched, would make as much 

 noise as a small drum corps. But since their eggs com 

 rnanded $1 to Sjij each, they have learned a few points. By 

 visiting their breeding grounds vou may see one hawk, but 

 there is a scarcity of this particular species of haw ks alone,-. 

 When the young hatch now they are as still as a Quaker 

 meeting when the spirit does not move. I have known 

 thirty persons to visit. Mount Tom in imm. day, looking after 

 this hawk's eggs. And they got a good view of I he beauti- 

 ful Connecticut Valley for their interest iu natural history. 

 —Flick Flick (.Hartford, Conn.. May 15. 1S83). 



A Fawn at Laroe. — Iu the Central Park there is a fawn 

 which the keepers arc unable to capture, and which wanders 

 wherever he pleases. He usually keeps company 

 flock of peafowl trad guinea hens," roaming during the day 

 with them about the Park, and at niirht sleeping under the 

 tree in which they roost. When the fowls are fed he picks 

 up some of the kernels of corn which are thrown to them. 

 He is very tame and will take food from the hands of visit- 

 ors, but is very suspicious of the keepers or the t A..i!'i,. ,i 

 who have, several times tried to catch him in order to return 

 him to the deer paddock. 



r but 



fe 



.' pairs in this 



m Stre 



_'t. 



md. 



j Mount Tom, 

 certainly, with 



ways. 



he ' 



vas one of the 



I h:iv 



■ Wl 



il cited htm for 



1 caret 



race 



itself. Throw 

 before, it, could 



r. S, G 

 but tin 



Mo 



y n 



---:, of this city, 



uule a feast of 



were 



pi'e, 



euled to Prof. 



lem highly 



These hawks 



'.'_'- mi i lie bare rocks, 

 rgsiu the places which 



t at. Before tin- i 



ad their nesl. Timy 

 ing until you were out 



