1874.] 313 [Ridgway. 



These are the chief terrestrial species, the oven bird, or orange- 

 crowned thrush (Seiurus aurocapillus) and Carolina wren (Thryotlio- 

 rus ludovicianus) being about the only ones which ever reinforce 

 them. The arboreal series consists chiefly of "wood warblers " (Den- 

 droicos), instead of "ground warblers," (Geotlilypece) and "worm- 

 eating warblers" ( Vermivorece) . D. ccerulea is by far the most 

 common species, and with it are seen D. dominica, Mniotilta varia, 

 Setopliaga ruticilla, Panda americana, and occasionally D. pinus. 

 Lanivireo Jtavifrons, Vireosylvia olivacea 1 V. gilva, and several Empi- 

 donaces (E. acadicus, E. traillii, and occasionally E. minimus — the 

 former most abundant, the latter rare) about complete the list of 

 small birds which are most likely to be observed — though the scarlet 

 tanager (Pyranga rubra') may flash across an opening in the foliage, 

 and alighting on a bare twig, sit as if intended for pure orna- 

 ment, his intense scarlet plumage with velvety-black wings and tail 

 contrasting richly with the green background of foliage. This spe- 

 cies is mentioned the more particularly because the vermilion tanager 

 (P. astiva), so common in the dry or upland woods, is rarely, if ever, 

 seen in the forest of the bottom-lands. 



It will be noticed that in this fauna the Fringilline element is 

 entirely wanting, but this becomes a component part as soon as an 

 open copse or glade in the woods is reached. Then we find it 

 represented by Cardinalis virginianus, Pipilo erytlirophtlialmus, Spizella 

 pusilla and Cyanospiza cyanea\ few, if any, other Fringillidoe, ever 

 occurring at this season in the bottom-lands along with these species. 



In addition to the foregoing, few birds are likely to be met with 

 during the sultry mid-day ; but towards evening, when their retreats 

 grow cooler, every variety of animal life wakens into activity. Squir- 

 rels (Sciurus ludovicianus and S. carolinensis) scamper through the 

 tree-tops ; several species of Cicada deafen the ear with their screech- 

 ing, trilling and sawing notes ; and birds which have been hidden and 

 silent during the warmer part of the day leave their places of con- 

 cealment and become noisy. The pzeet, tsip and pit of various war- 

 blers is heard among the canes or the spice- wood bushes; the peerless 

 whistlings of the Thryotliorus ludovicianus and the rich song of the 

 Seiurus ludovicianus — so full of power and sweetness — is heard 

 from a neighboring swamp. Perched upon the outstretched arms 

 of a huge sycamore, whose old, dead, snow-white branches over- 

 hang a lagoon, sits a great crested fly- catcher (Myiarchus crinitus), 

 uttering the screaming whistles and irritable twitter so characteristic 



