Destruction of Birds by the Great Cold Wave of February 13 and 14, 

 1899, — The cold wave which struck the coast of South Carolina was 

 the severest recorded for 200 years. On Monday, February 13, the ther- 

 mometer registered 14° above zero, with the ground covered with 

 snow from four to five inches deep on a level, while drifts were two 

 feet deep. This is a remarkable occurrence for the coast region and 

 to be seen scarcely in a lifetime. On Tuesday, at 6.55 A. m., the 

 thermometer registered 6 ° above zero. This excessively cold weather 

 came upon us very suddenly. It was sleeting all day Sunday, Feb- 

 ruary 12, but towards midnigiit grew suddenly colder, and when morn- 

 ing dawned the whole country was covered with snow. The destruction 

 of bird life caused by this cold wave can scarcely be conceived. To 

 say that Fox Sparrows (Passerella iliaca), and Snow birds {Jiinco hyem- 

 alis) were frozen to death by the millions is not an exaggerated statement, 

 but a conservative one. There was a tremendous migration of Fox 

 Sparrows on Monday, the 13th, following the coast line of the mainland. 

 They apparently came from the northeast, migrating in a southwesterly 

 direction. Thousands tarried in mj' yard all day long and swarmed in 

 the piazza, fowl-yard and every place that would afford protection. They 

 would scratch away the snow in order to find a bare place, singing — 

 that is the stronger birds — the whole time, while their companions were 

 freezing by the hundreds. When thev were benumbed by the intense 

 cold Boat-tailed Crackles (J^tiiscal/is major), and Red-winged Blackbirds 

 {Agelaius p/iceniceus) would peck them at the base of the skull, killing 

 them and eating them. The stronger Fox Sparrows would also eai their 

 dead companions. It was a most pathetic sight. I caught quantities of 

 Fox Sparrows, Crass Finches, Snowbirds, and Chipping Sparrows and 

 put them into a large cage which I brought into the house and placed 

 before a large fire with the hope of saving tliem from destruction, but 

 despite this they all died. Very few of these birds were emaciated, and 

 the great majority' were fat. 



The Woodcock (Philohela minor) arrived in countless thousands. Prior 

 to their arrival I had seen but two birds the entire winter. They were 

 everywhere and were completely bewildered. Tens of thousands were 

 killed by would-be sportsmen, and thousands were frozen to death. The 

 great majority were so emaciated that they were practically feathers and 

 •of course were unable to withstand the cold. One man killed 200 fairs 

 in a few hours. I shot a dozen birds. Late Tuesday afternoon I easily 

 caught several birds on the snow and put them into a thawed spot on the 

 edge of a swift-running stream in order that they would not perish, but 

 upon going to the place the next morning I found one frozen. These 

 were fearfully emaciated and could scarcely fly. Two birds were killed in 

 Charleston in Broad street. It will be many years before this fine bird 

 can establish itself under the most favorable conditions. The following 

 is a list of birds that I saw which were frozen to death : Fox Sparrow, 

 Passerella iliaca ; Snowbird, Jtitico hyemalis ; Woodcock, Philohela minor ; 



Grass Finch, Poiecetes gramineus ; Savanna Sparrow, A mmodramus sand- 

 wichensis savanna I Chipping Sparrow, iSj^/rcZ/rt: socialise Song Sparrow, 

 Melosfiza fasciata ; Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana ; Blue-headed 

 Vireo, Vireo solilarius ; Hermit Thrush, Turdiis aonalaschkce pallasii ; 

 Meadowlark, Sturnella magna; Mourning Dove, Zenaidtira macronra ; 

 Killdeer, ^^gialitis vocifera; Bluebird, Sialia sialis ; Catbirds, Galeos- 

 coftes carolinensis ; Pine Warbler, Deiidroica vigorsii. 



Bluebirds and Pine Warblers were decimated. Mockingbirds, Cardi- 

 nals, Florida Towhees, Carolina Wrens, and all Woodpeckers escaped. — 

 Arthur T. Wayke, Mount Pleasant, S. C. 



Auk, XVI, April, 1899, p^.'f 7"^ 



