The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

VOL V. JANUARY, 1941 No. I

PUBLISHED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
At State College Station
Raleigh, N. C,

The Chat

Bulletin of the North Carolina Bird Club

John Grey, Jr., Editor Thomas L. Quay, Associate Editor

State College Station, Raleigh, N. C.

Published five times a year on the fifteenth of January, March, May, September, and
November as the official organ of the North Carolina Bird Club and Is sent to all mem-
bers. Articles for publication should reach the Editor by the first of the month in which
the issue is published. Notification of change of address or of lost copies should also be
sent to the editor.

VoL. V JANUARY, 1941

No. 1

CONTENTS

PAGE

Bird.s That Hunt and Are Hunted, J. S. Holmes 1

Mattamuskeet Field Trip, February 1, E, E. Brown 4

Wildfowl, H. H. Brimley 5

The 1940 Christmas Census 8

Index to The Chat, Vols. I-IV 13

New Monthly Check-list, E. E. Brown 16

THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

Organized March 6, 10.37, for the study and protection of our birds. Member-
.ship is open to those interested in this work, and is divided into four classes:
.Members, who pay dues of $1.00 per year ; Sustaining Members, dues of .$5.00
a year ; Contributing Members, dues of $25.00 a year ; Life Members, one lump
sum of $100.00. Nominations and ai>plications for memliersbip should be sent
to the Treasurer. Present officers :

President : Miss Claudia Hunter, Henderson ; First Vice-President : Dr. A. D.
Shaftsbury, W. C. U. N. C., Greensboro : Second Vice-Pre.sident : John J. Sig-
wald, Wilson; Third Vice-President: Mrs. Dodette IV. Grinnell, Arden; Secre-
tary: Mr.s. E. G. Flannagan, Henderson; Treasurer: Dr. C. H. Bostian. State
College Station. Raleigh; Editor: Rev. John Grey, Jr., State College Station.
Raleigh.

Birds That Hunt And Are Hunted

J. S. Holmes, Raleigh

Predator}' birds are those which feed on other live birds or animals.
Hawks and owls catch mice, rats, small birds, and even poultry; and
Ospreys and Kingfishers feed themselves and their young on fish. The
predators should not be confused with the scavengers or those which feed
on dead birds or other carrion. The Turkey Vulture and the gulls are
scavengers but they are not predators since they do not catch their prey.

All of the predatory birds are hunters, and they are also hunted by men
who feel that such birds destroy many game birds. There are three main
lines of thought regarding animals and birds that prey on others. These
three lines we may call right, left, and center.

The left is made up of the radicals who feel that all predators and their
relatives, together with most other animals that might interfere with the
game should be destroyed. Fortunately, this is not now the most influential
group, though it still seems to be the most vociferous. This is the group
which has been responsible for the bounty systems. North Carolina began
paying bounties on crows, hawks, and wild cats in 1928 and ceased in 1936,
paying as much as $5,000.00 in a year. To these leftists the word wildlife
means only game : other birds and animals are of interest to them only
as they increase or decrease the amount of game.

The right includes the vast majority of the population, which has no
interest in killing game or other wild things. Their joy is in seeing and
hearing the wild things of field and stream.

The center is a compromise group with an economic point of view, best
illustrated by the Biological Survey (now called Migration and Distribu-
tion of Birds). They seem to accept the contention that the major objec-
tive in wildlife management is to produce a maximum amount of game to
be killed each year.

North Carolina has been making some progress with regard to its law
dealing with predators. Prior to 1927 the law provided that all wild birds
except game birds, English Sparrows, Crows, Blackbirds, Jackdaws,
Hawks, and Owls be protected throughout the year. Robins and Larks
were considered game birds. In keeping with this law the State the next
year offered bounties for certain predators, or “vermin” and the counties
were authorized to expend up to $1,000 in such bounties, to be reimbursed
by the State. The result was the indiscriminate slaughter of all hawks,
as practically no county official or even game wardens knew one hawk
from another. The beneficial hawks, like the Sparrow, Red-shouldered,
and Red-tailed, were killed and paid for along with the Cooper’s and
Sharp-shinned which do take game and poultry.

In 1935 the law was amended to remove beneficial hawks from the
unprotected list, and the law now reads: “Sec. 18. Birds and animals for

2

THE CHAT

which no open season is provided shall be classed as protected and shall be
unlawful to take or possess at any time. Unprotected birds and animals
may be taken, possessed, bought, sold and transported at any time in any
manner. 1. Unprotected birds: English Sparrow, Great Horned Owls,
Cooper’s Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Crows, Ja3^s, Blackbirds, Star-
lings and Buzzards, and their nest and eggs. 2. Unprotected animals:
Wild Cats, Weasels and Skunk: Provided that unprotected birds and
animals may not be killed by the use of poison or dynamite except under
permit issued by the Commissioner.” It will be noticed that Starlings are
here added to the list of unprotected birds. They first appeared in the
State in 1919.

In recent years the Federal Government has been studying — chiefly from
an economic standpoint — the habits, food, and life histories of our preda-
tors and other birds and animals which have been loosely classed as “ver-
min.” Trained scientists have been added to many of our state game com-
missions, and the publications of the Fish and Wildlife Service are more
and more advocating a live-and-let-live policy.

It should be remembered that predation is normal, and that the same
predators existed back in the early days when wildlife populations were
much greater than they are today. The reason for predation is nearly
always to secure needed food. In earlier days man had as good a reason
for killing as did the other wild creatures, for game was essential to the
maintenance of life. Today, however, when food is no object, man stands
practically alone among predators as killing for the thrill of the kill. Man
is also the most destructive predator. There are three general types of
human predators : ( 1 ) Those who need food and are satisfied with what
they and their families can use; (2) those who kill for sale; (3) those
who hunt within the law for their own pleasure. This last group is the
more conspicuous and the more respected group, yet they are actuated by
selfishness for they want all the game for themselves both now and in
the future.

There is one definite benefit in having predatory birds and animals.
Each piece of land has a certain carrying capacitj^, varying with the amount
and kind of food and of plant cover. It has been conclusively demon-
strated that predators catch only those animals which are in excess of the
number that the land will naturally support. If predators do not kill this
excess, starvation and adverse weather do.

Personally, I am a great admirer of the crow. The early morning
flight across the fields and the return at dusk is closely associated with
rural life. Both in Europe and America scarecrows are a recognition
of the damage which farmers think they may receive from this bird. In
some places crows congregate in enormous numbers and in such cases con-
siderable damage is done to grain crops. The Biological Survey estimated
that about three and three-fourths million crows were in Oklahoma in the
winter of 1937-38. Crows from eight major roosts in the Grady County

THE CHAT

3

section were observed feeding over an area of 2,592 square miles with an
average of 323 birds to the square mile. While the cost per farm in these
concentrated areas ran as high as $66.00, the damage sustained ran from
five to twelve per cent, or an average for the state of nearly seven per cent
for grain sorghums, and Indian corn. The investigator concluded that
from a state-wide viewpoint the crow is a much less serious problem, and
in some wheat-raising sections is a benefit.

Sportsmen are, of course, only a minority group among all those inter-
ested in the preservation of our wildlife. Yet this small group has con-
trolled the making of most of our laws about game and other animals.
The groups who are interested in wildlife in ways other than shooting owe
it to themselves to become more active in the securing of protective legis-
lation.

The value of hawks and owls to agriculture has long been known.
Dr. A. K. Fisher’s “Hawks and Owls of the United States in Their
Relation to Agriculture,” published in 1893, made clear to the farmer the
desirability of protecting the majority of these birds, covering as it did a
scientific study of the feeding habits of thirty-two species of hawks and
seventeen species of owls. Ten years later the North Carolina Audubon
Society was organized and the National Association of Audubon Societies
supported the educational and protective programs here and elsewhere.
T. Gilbert Pearson and the two Brimleys were the active organizers of
the State Society.

For years many so-called sportsmen slaughtered thousands of migrating
hawks each fall at Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania, merely for the pleasure
of killing. Under the Emergency Conservation Committee first, and now
under the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, this shooting is termi-
nated. Last fall 4,200 people visited this sanctuary to observe and study
the flights of some fifteen species of hawks and eagles.

The sad thing is that until a few years ago the non-killers who take their
keenest pleasure in the form, the action, the intelligence, the aesthetic and
spiritual qualities in birds have been silent, or nearly so, probably for lack of
a mouthpiece or a leader, or perhaps an audience. Now with The Chat and
the State and local bird clubs they can and should appeal to the Legislature
and the public. These clubs have been organized none too soon. There
are a number of predators which are rapidly decreasing and some have
about reached the vanishing point. Their grace and skill and beauty must
be perpetuated and their high and daring spirits must not perish from the
earth. Let those who love the birds alive seize their share of the responsi-
bility of control legislation, not leaving it all to the hunters. We must see
that the higher and more satisfying view of our wildlife is more adequately
presented in our schools and colleges. Let us actively participate in the
education of our children, teaching them to observe and love all life and
beauty as their common heritage. Besides enjoying the meetings of the club.

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THE CHAT

we have the privilege and I think the duty of protecting as well as studying
these weaker creatures and of interpreting them sympathetically to the
next generation.

Mattamuskeet Field Trip, February I. 1941

E. E. Brown, Davidson

The Club’s second attempt to reach Mattamuskeet Lake under arctic
conditions is planned for Saturday, February 1. Dr. Maynard S. Johnson,
manager of the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, has kindly con-
sented to serve as host and guide to “those who can take it.” Dr. Johnson
says that plenty of wildfowl may be seen, regardless of the nature of the
weather or the time of day.

It is suggested that members arrive at New Holland on Friday, January
31, in time for a good night’s rest. A ccornmodations (heated tourist
cabins at about the usual rates) may be had at the tourist camp of Mr.
Leslie O’Neal, New Holland. More luxurious rooms may be found at
the Mattamuskeet Lodge (Mrs. Rebecca S. Mann, Manager, New Hol-
land) at $3.50 and $4.00 per person, American Plan. For the convenience
of Mrs. Mann and Mr. O’Neal, it is suggested that members make reser-
vations in advance.

Equipment for the trip should, by all means, include binoculars. Camera
fans will find game at which to shoot. Clothing should be planned for
warmth, with emphasis on feet and hands. Better bring all you can wear,
including the old red “F. F. V’s.”

Plan. The group should assemble at the refuge office by 8:30 Saturday
morning. Those on hand earlier (7:30 to 8:30) may be taken by Dr.
Johnson in small groups up the headquarters tower. The tower offers an
excellent general view of the lake, and a view of waterfowl through
Dr. Johnson’s high-powered telescope. Short trips will be taken to several
points near headquarters. If banding traps make any catch that day,
members may be interested in seeing the birds banded. Lunch may be had
at New Holland, and there may be further opportunity for “towering”
at this time. After lunch Dr. Johnson is likely to take the group to Lake
Landing and the east end of the refuge, though plans are subject to change
by local conditions of bird distribution, etc. Members may, of course, feel
free to leave at any time which suits their particular convenience, or to
remain at New Holland over another night.

Dr. Johnson says that “the people who come may confidently look for-
ward to a good view of waterfowl.”

THE CHAT

5

Wildfowl

H. H. Brimley, Raleigh

There are some sixty species and sub-species of wildfowl found in the
United States, half of which have been known to occur in North Carolina.
The largest of these birds is the Trumpeter Swan which is now almost
extinct, with something like a hundred birds left to us. The Whistling
Swan, a slightly smaller bird, winters mainly in our State, being seen by
the thousands at Lake Mattamuskeet. The smallest of the wildfowl is
either the famale of the Bufflehead or of the Green-winged Teal, both of
which occur with us. Thus, while we do not have the largest wildfowl,
we have the next largest and also the smallest in North Carolina, and
there a goodly number of species that are between these two extremes.

The ducks are the most numerous in species and in numbers of the
wildfowl. A hundred thousand ducks have been known to occur on Back
Bay, Virginia, just north of our own Currituck Sound; and Mattamuskeet
Lake, Albemarle Sound, and Currituck count their ducks not by tens, or
hundreds, or even thousands, but by the tens of thousands. North Caro-
linians have never appreciated the abundance of wildfowl that winter with
us. In general, we class ducks under three groups: dabbling ducks, diving
ducks, and fish eaters.

The dabblers, or river ducks, are those which do not like to dive for their
food but prefer to feed along the edge of pond or river, or to tipple in
shallow water for the vegetation growing on the bottom. Tippling means
they stand on their heads in the water with their feet moving rapidly to
keep their tails aloft — as though they had to work hard to keep themselves
in this position. Included in this group are the Mallards, Black Duck,
Green-winged and the Blue-winged Teals, Baldpate, Gadwall, Pintail,
Wood Duck, and Shoveller. All of these occur in our State.

The diving ducks usually feed on larger bodies of water than do the
dabblers, and this is for a good reason. It takes more room for a diving
duck to get on the wing than for a dabbling duck, for the diving duck has
to skitter along the surface using both feet and wings to get up momentum
like an airplane taking off, while river ducks can spring off the water into
the air in short order. Some of our diving ducks are the Redhead, Canvas-
back, Greater and Lesser Scaup, and the Ring-necked Duck. Another
group of diving ducks are the scoters, or Sea Coots as some call them ;
just off the beach one can often find the American, White-winged, and
the Surf Scoter. Other forms of diving ducks that like the ocean and
bays are the Golden-eye, Bufflehead, Old Squaw, and Ruddy Duck.

The fisheaters, or mergansers, include the Red-breasted, American, and
Hooded Mergansers. These birds are equipped with small ridges on their
bills similar to saw teeth with which they can hold on to a slippery fish.
The flesh of these birds is not considered such a delicacy on account of the
fishy taste.

6

THE CHAT

Another major division of wildfowl is the geese, which include the
Canada Goose, Brant, Greater Snow Goose, White-fronted Goose, and the
Blue Goose. North Carolina is again the major wintering grounds for
some of these species. The Brant winter mainly in Albemarle Sound, far
off shore. The Greater Snow Geese have been concentrating on the Pea
Island Refuge, just south of Oregon Inlet, where Sam Walker reported
ten thousand on one day last year. The Comm.on Canada Goose is by no
means confined to North Carolina as a winter visitor, as it is found in the
Gulf States also, but we have a heavy concentration of these birds in the
inland waters near the coast, and Mattamuskeet Lake has a notable repu-
tation as headquarters for goose hunters. Of recent years we have had a
few Blue Geese in with the Snow Geese, and an occasional White-fronted
Goose, but these are stragglers from the west where these birds usually
winter.

An interesting characteristic of game birds and animals that is often
overlooked by observers is the weight of individual specimens. Guesswork
and the newspaper boys are responsible for some of the following absurd
items: “A turkey gobbler with a ten-inch beard weighing thirty pounds”—
“wild cats weigh forty pounds and up, coons run up to forty, Canada Geese
weigh fifteen to eighteen pounds.” Even Audubon tells of a “sixty-pound
wild gobbler and a thirty-eight-pound Trumpeter Swan.”

Here are a few weights that I know to be correct from my own hunting,
and from preparing specimens for the State Museum. The largest Canada
Goose I ever handled tipped the scales at ten and three-quarters pounds —
probably weighed eleven pounds when freshly killed. I have seen Whist-
ling Swan of 22 pounds, and know of a 25-pound bird. Large fat Mallard
and Black Duck will go six pounds to the pair ; so will Canvas-back,
Redheads, and Greater Scaup, which gunners call Big Blackheads, will
make five pounds per pair ; while the Lesser Scaup will do only three and
three-quarters pounds to the pair. Brant in good condition four pounds.
The heaviest duck I ever weighed was an unusuallv large American Mer-
ganser killed by W. N. Hutt on New River, that pulled down three and
three-quarter pounds. I have never seen a Wild Turkey that weighed
over twenty pounds, and the largest Wild Cat I ever handled weighed
twenty-two pounds.

In the days when it was quite a habit to look upon the wine when it was
red, the names Canvas-back and Terrapin were synonymous for high living,
but when spirituous liquors were nationally outlawed the formerly out-
rageously priced Terrapin decreased considerably in value, and the Canvas-
back cannot now be purchased legally. I have heard it said that the reason
why the demand for terrapin fell off was that no man would pay the
awful prices asked for the stewed delicacy unless he was half-stewed him-
self, for a few drinks under the belt were necessary to the enjoyment of a
bloody, half-raw Canvas-back as served according to the recipe endorsed
by our Best People.

THE CHAT

7

The diving powers of some of our Sea Ducks approach those of the
loons and grebes, particularly in the case of a slightly wounded fowl, as
every duck hunter knows to his cost. I hesitate to mention definite depths
of water in which some of the Sea Ducks have been known to feed on the
bottom, but I know that I have seen a hundred feet mentioned. A vessel
loaded with beans went ashore on the island of Heligoland and, in sinking,
scattered her cargo over the bottom in ten fathoms of water (60 feet).
Flocks of Scoters discovered this submarine beanery and fed on the beans
until their flesh lost its usual fishy taste and became quite palatable.

An examination of the body of a typical wild duck shows a development
of flying mechanism different in character from that of most of the notice-
ably strong flyers. The deep keel of the breast-bone so much in evidence
in vultures, hawks, gulls, shorebirds, etc., is replaced by a comparatively
shallow keel, the flight muscles being cared for by a lateral instead of a
vertical distribution. This arrangement results in a broad, streamline,
boat-like body, so necessary to a bird that spends the greater part of its
active life on or under the water. The wing area is noticeably small
compared to the total weight of the bird, calling for a development of
wing muscle capable of driving the wings at a very high rate of speed.

When an eagle or a herring gull moves from place to place the progres-
sive force results from comparatively slow strokes of long, broad wings,
but when a duck is called hence it steps on the gas and whirls through the
air like a bullet.

The statement that a canvas-back flies at the rate of a hundred miles
an hour has been made so many times that most people believe it, though it
has no basis in fact. Let us consider for a moment what a hundred miles
per hour means : Suppose you are in a duck blind and a canvas-back crosses
you forty yards away flying at that speed, which is 146% feet per second!
You shoot directly at the duck with a cartridge giving the shot a muzzle
velocity of 1,100-foot seconds. Owing to excessive air resistance to shot
the velocity would average perhaps around 900-foot seconds for the whole
40 yards, the shot requiring two-fifteenths of a second to reach the place
where the duck was when you pulled trigger. Meanwhile, the duck has
not been idle, not so that you would notice it, and he has traveled 19%
feet while the shot has been traveling 120 feet, and your shot passes on
into the unknown about nineteen feet behind the duck’s tail. In other
words, if you fired with your gun stationary, you would have to aim 19%
feet ahead of a duck flying at a hundred miles per hour, forty yards away,
to hit the bird. If you cut the accredited speed rates of any bird about
one-half, you are likely to be nearer the truth than you would be in accept-
ing the popular ideas on the subject.

8

THE CHAT

The Christmas Census

It is hard to account for the fact that we have only eight censuses as
compared with twelve last year. Most of the absent ones are in the East,
which gives us a shortage of water-fowl and shore birds. Weather for the
census period was good until Christmas Day but rainy or foggy from then
on, with many reports giving low visibility. Total species reported is 96
as against 128 last year: this shortage is partly due to lack of eastern
observers, and particularly Pea Island, which accounted for 20 or more
species last year. Rocky Mount leads with 73 species, which is their best
census yet. Chapel Hill is next with 71 species, which is 4 below their
best year, but they lead with 2,960 individuals as against Rocky Mount’s
2,673.

It is difficult to make any generalization on the basis of only eight
reports but we note that Woodpeckers are well represented, that Bluebirds
are not as numerous as last year, and that Meadowlarks do not appear to
be as abundant as a year ago. It is puzzling why Horned Larks should
be reported only from Red Springs and Rocky Mount, and Chipping Spar-
rows from Chapel Hill and Arden.

There were no reports of Purple Crackle, Eagles, Catbirds, White-
crowned Sparrows, Red-breasted Merganser, Barn Owl, Blue-headed
Vireo, or Redpoll. Scarce species were Pied-billed Grebe, Ruddy Duck,
Ruby-crowneA-Kinglet, Cowbirds, and Savannah Sparrows.

Localities which were the only ones to report certain species are :
Winston-Salem with Canada Geese and Canvas-back; Rocky Mount with
Wood Duck, Pigeon Hawk (which is amazing in winter) and Vesper
Sparrows; Chapel Hill with Redhead Duck, Wild Turkey, and Yellow-
throat; Raleigh had Golden-eye; Smoky Mountains with Duck Hawk,
Raven, and Pine Siskin; Arden with Black-and-white Warbler (which is
astonishing but has been previously reported from the mountains in win-
ter) ; and Red Springs with both the Yellow and the Western Palm
Warbler.

Durham, N. C. (Duke University Campus as base, Erwin and Rigsbee
Roads west to Hollow Rock [5 miles], 5 miles northwest to Eno River
and Crystal Lake, 7 miles northeast to Little River, and Durham Bird
Sanctuary.) December 22: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Clear, slight northwest
wind; temperature 26°-62°. Two parties on foot and in car. Total hours
for all participants 22 hrs. ; 54 miles by car; 12 miles on foot.

Turkey Vulture, 10; Black Vulture, 2; Cooper’s Hawk, 1; Red-tailed
Hawk, 1; Flicker, 9; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 4; Red-headed Wood-
pecker, 1; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Downy
Woodpecker, 3; Phoebe, 1; Blue Jay, 14; Crow, 14; Chickadee, 21;
Tufted Titmouse, 12; White-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Brown-headed Nut-
hatch, 2; Brown Creeper, 1 ; Carolina Wren, 8 ; Mockingbird, 1 ; Bluebird,
15; Golden Crowned Kinglet, 4; Ruby Crowned Kinglet, 2; Starling, 6;

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9

Myrtle Warbler, 6; Pine Warbler, 5; English Sparrow, 15; Meadowlark,
2; Cardinal, 24; Goldfinch, 90; Towhee, 6; Junco, 88; Field Sparrow, 12;
White-throated Sparrow, 28; Swamp Sparrow, 2; Song Sparrow, 11.
Total, 36 species; 427 individuals, Paul J, Kramer, Thomas J. Jones,
and Mr. and Mrs. Mychyle W. Johnson; members Duke-Durham Bird
Club.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee (same area as in
past three years — circle of miles radius centering on Bullhead of

Mt. LeConte, and including a section of the Tennessee-North Carolina
divide from Silers Bald to the Sawteeth ; also the towns of Gatlinburg and
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee). Dec. 22, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Clear;
ground frozen, thawing at low altitudes ; wind light, variable, temperature
25° to 62° in lowlands, colder in uplands. Altitude range 1,200 to 6,600
feet. Five parties, 40 party-hours, 54 party-miles on foot and 69 party-
miles in car. Turkey Vulture, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 2; Duck Hawk, 1;
Ruffed Grouse, 10 (1 heard drumming repeatedly); Bob-white, 9 (1
covey) ; Kingfisher, 2; Flicker, 2; Pileated Woodpecker, 2; Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 11; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Blue Jay,
1 ; Raven, 5; Crow, 220 (est.) ; Chickadee (both Black-capped and Caro-
lina observed), 145; Tufted Titmouse, 31; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 46;
Brown Creeper, 2; Winter Wren, 3; Carolina Wren, 10; Mockingbird,
1; Robin, 3; Hermit Thrush, 13; Bluebird, 19; Golden-crowned Kinglet,
18; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 5; Cedar Waxwing, 4; Migrant Shrike, 1;
Myrtle Warbler, 2; English Sparrow, 30; Cardinal, 65; Purple Finch, 11 ;
Pine Siskin, 400 (est.) ; Goldfinch, 53; Towhee, 8; Savannah Sparrow, 2;
Junco (both Slate-colored and Carolina observed), 220 (est.); Field
Sparrow, 180 (est.); White-throated Sparrow, 59; Song Sparrow, 64.
Total, 42 species; approximately 1,667 individuals. A good seed crop on
fir probably accounts for numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches and Pine
Siskins present. Sparrow Hawk, Turkey, Phoebe, and Red Crossbill
observed between Dec. 18-22. Arthur Stupka, Park Naturalist, William
F. Alston, and 26 members and guests of East Tennessee Ornithological
Society.

Chapel Hill, N. C. — Dec. 23 ; 6 a.m. to 5 :30 p.m. Clear, temperature
37°-54° F. Same territory as covered in former years with addition of
Eastwood Lake, a new artificial lake. Total of 5 parties in morning, 3
in afternoon, 1-3 persons per party. Total miles on foot 29, by car 25.
Pied-billed Grebe, 2; Great Blue Heron, 3 ; Mallard, 11 ; Black Duck, 14;
Red-head, 2 ; Ring-necked Duck, 40 ; Scaup, 20 ; Buffle-head, 3 ; Ruddy
Duck, 3; American Merganser, 2; Turkey Vulture, 17; Black Vulture,
9 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 ; Cooper’s Hawk, 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk, 3 ;
Sparrow Hawk, 2; Bobwhite, 24; Turkey, 3; Coot, 3; Killdeer, 16;
Woodcock, 3 ; Wilson Snipe, 2 ; Mourning Dove, 63 ; Great Horned Owl,
3; Barred Owl, 1; Flicker, 28; Pileated Woodpecker, 2; Red-bellied
Woodpecker, 11; Red-headed Woodpecker, 3; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker,

10

THE CHAT

5; Hairy Woodpecker, 3; Downy Woodpecker, 12; Phoebe, 4; Blue Jay,
25; Crow, 72; Carolina Chickadee, 66; Tufted Titmouse, 29; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 9; Brown-headed Nuthatch, 9; Brown Creeper, 11;
Winter Wren, 20; Carolina Wren, 51; Mockingbird, 10; Brown
Thrasher, 2; Robin, 6; Hermit Thrush, 13; Bluebird, 103; Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 27 ; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 5 ; American Pipit, 1 ; Cedar
Waxwing, 153; Starling, 61; Myrtle Warbler, 60; Pine Warbler, 9;
Yellow-throat, 1; English Sparrow, 74; Meadowlark, 62; Red-winged
Blackbird, 16; Rusty Blackbird, 26; Cardinal, 36; Purple Finch, 26;
Goldfinch, 55; Towhee, 13; Savannah Sparrow, 9; Junco, 625; Chipping
Sparrow, 1; Field Sparrow, 213; White-throated Sparrow, 211; Fox
Sparrow, 12; Swamp Sparrow, 139; Song Sparrow, 211. Total species,
71 ; total individuals, 2,966. The Yellow-throat (E. P. Odum), an imma-
ture or female, was seen and heard in the same place on Dec. 22. — Eugene
Odum, Coit Coker, Fremont Shepherd, Thomas Odum, Edmund Taylor,
Arnold Breckenridge, M. S. Breckenridge, Martha Odum, Bill Thomas.

Red Springs, N. C. (Flora Macdonald College Campus; Raft Swamp;
north to Antioch Mill-pond, Hoke County; south to Philadelphus Mill-
pond, Robeson County ; golf links ; savannahs ; cotton fields ; pine and open
oak woods). — Dec. 24; 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., one hour out for meals. Sun
shining through clouds ; ground dry ; light southeast wind ; temperature
38° at start, 58° at finish. Observers together. Total party-hours afield,
8^/2 (7 afoot, D/o by car) ; total party miles, 35 (8 afoot, 27 by car).
Turkey Vulture, 1; Black Vulture, 4; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Marsh
Hawk, 1 ; Sparrow Hawk, 2; Mourning Dove, 10; Flicker, 7; Red-bellied
Woodpecker, 5; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 2;
Downy Woodpecker, 4; Phoebe, 2; Horned Lark, 150 (subsp. ?) ; Blue
Jay, 13; Crow, 14; Tufted Titmouse, 17; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3;
Brown-headed Nuthatch, 12; Brown Creeper, 2; Winter Wren, 5; Caro-
lina Wren, 12; Mockingbird, 3; Brown Thrasher, 2; Robin, 212; Hermit
Thrush, 2 ; Bluebird, 6 ; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 1 ; Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, 5; Cedar Waxwing, 2; Shrike, 4; Starling, 42; Myrtle Warbler,
7 ; Western Palm Warbler, 5 ; Yellow Palm Warbler, 1 ; English Sparrow,
23; Meadowlark, 28; Rusty Blackbird, 43; Cardinal, 18; Goldfinch, 1;
Towhee, 12; Savannah Sparrow, 3; Junco, 10; Field Sparrow, 17; White-
throated Sparrow, 218; Fox Sparrow, 57; Song Sparrow, 17. Total, 46
species; 1,017 individuals. The Palm Warblers were observed at close
range in bright sunlight, 5 of them having no yellow except on tail coverts,
the other being very yellow. Dickson Vardell Murray, Jane Murray,
Jimmy Murray, J. J. Murray.

Arden (Buncombe County) : Three-mile radius in Rosscraggen Wood
and Royal Pines, including a trail up Brown Mountain. Dec. 26, 9 :30-
5:00. Partly clear, 50° to 58°. One party afoot in morning 3 miles,
5 miles by car in afternoon. Red-tailed Hawk, 1 ; Sparrow Hawk, 1 ;

THE CHAT

11

Ruffed Grouse, 1; Bob-white, 12; Dove, 4; Screech Owl, 1; Flicker, 2;
Pileated Woodpecker, 1; Red-headed Woodpecker, 3; Yellow-bellied Sap-
sucker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 10; Phoebe, 1;
Blue Jay, 4; Crow, 6; Black-capped Chickadee, 6; Carolina Chickadee,
10; Tufted Titmouse, 15; White-breasted Nuthatch, 10; Red-breasted
Nuthatch, 10; Brown Creeper, 3; Winter Wren, 2; Carolina Wren, 6;
Mockingbird, 1; Robin, 2; Hermit Thrush, 2; Bluebird, 6; Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 4; Starling, 10; Black-and-white Warbler, 1; Myrtle
Warbler, 2; English Sparrow, 10; Meadowdark, 4; Cowbird, 2; Cardinal,
4; Purple Finch, 1 ; Goldfinch, 2; Towhee, 6; Junco, 25; Chipping Spar-
row, small flock; Field Sparrow, 6; White-throated Sparrow, 10; Fox
Sparrow, 7; Song Sparrow, 1. Total, 44 species; 231 individuals. Two
Tree Sparrows seen December 9th. Dodette Westfeldt Grinnell.

Rocky Mount, N. C. (Triangular territory, including all local types
of habitat, running 12 miles east and 14 miles north from city.) Dec. 27 ;
6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dark, cloudy, no wind; temperature 60° min., 64°
max. Seven observers working in 2 parties. Total party-hours afield, 20;
total party miles, 126 (12 afoot, 3 by boat. 111 by car). Pied-billed
Grebe, 1 ; Great Blue Heron, 1 ; Mallard, 9; Black Duck, 9; Wood Duck,
46 ; Ring-necked Duck, 1 ; Lesser Scaup Duck, 5 ; Hooded Merganser, 5 ;
Turkey Vulture, 34; Black Vulture, 19; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 ; Cooper’s
Hawk, 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk, 2 ; Red-shouldered Hawk, 5 ; Marsh Hawk,
9; Pigeon Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 18; Bob-white, 13; Killdeer, 3;
Woodcock, 2; Wilson’s Snipe, 8; Mourning Dove, 271; Screech Owl, 1;
Great Horned Owl, 2 (female flushed from nest) ; Barred Owl, 3; King-
fisher, 2; Flicker, 49; Pileated Woodpecker, 4; Red-bellied Woodpecker,
10; Red-headed Woodpecker, 8; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 4; Hairy
Woodpecker, 6; Downy Woodpecker, 40; Phoebe, 3; Horned Lark, 30;
Blue Jay, 27 ; Crow, 268; Carolina Chickadee, 50; Tufted Titmouse, 28;
White-breasted Nuthatch, 8; Brown Creeper, 1 ; Winter Wren, 4; Caro-
lina Wren, 31; Mockingbird, 4; Brown Thrasher, 2; Robin, 16; Hermit
Thrush, 7; Bluebird, 44; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3; Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, 3; American Pipit, 45; Cedar Waxwing, 90; Migrant Shrike, 19;
Starling, 110; Myrtle Warbler, 45; Pine Warbler, 1; English Sparrow,
235; Meadowlark, 135; Red-wing, 220; Cowbird, 40; Cardinal, 28;
Purple Finch, 38; Goldfinch, 35; Towhee, 18; Savannah Sparrow, 7;
Vesper Sparrow, 3 ; Slate-colored Junco, 235 ; Chipping Sparrow, 7 ; Field
Sparrow, 45; White-throated Sparrow, 62; Fox Sparrow, 19; Swamp
Sparrow, 8; Song Sparrow, 60. Total, 73 species, 2,673 individuals. —
Albert Corinth, Richmond Corinth, Neverson Lewis, F. H. Craighill,
Frank Williams, Randolph Butler, Davis Bulluck.

Raleigh, N. C. (Triangular area, 5-mile base, east and west, 3 miles
north, including Cameron Woods, Pullen Park, Boneyard Lake, Lake
Raleigh, Lake Johnson, Boone’s Pond.) Dec. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

12

THE CHAT

Heavy fog early, heavy clouds rest of day, light southwest wind, tempera-
ture about 60°-65°. Three parties in morning, two in afternoon on foot
and in cars, 15 miles on foot, 25 miles by car. Great Blue Heron, 2;
Black Duck, 6 ; Ringneck, 3 ; Lesser Scaup, 39 ; Goldeneye, 1 ; Buffle-head,
1 ; Hooded Merganser, 9; American Merganser, 24; Turkey Vulture, 1 ;
Marsh Hawk, 1 ; Sparrow Hawk, 2 ; Killdeer, 35 ; Dove, 69 ; Screech Owl,
1; Kingfisher, 3; Flicker, 11; Red-headed Woodpecker, 4; Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 8; Phoebe, 3;
Blue Jay, 6; Crow, 26; Carolina Chickadee, 43; Tufted Titmouse, 20;
Brown-headed Nuthatch, 12; Brown Creeper, 1; Carolina Wren, 13;
Mockingbird, 3 ; Hermit Thrush, 4; Bluebird, 9; Golden-crowned Kinglet,
25; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2; Pipit, 100; Loggerhead Shrike, 2; Starling,
31 ; Myrtle Warbler, 1 ; Pine Warbler, 25; English Sparrow, 50; Meadow
Lark, 51; Redwing, 100; Cardinal, 28; Purple Finch, 30; Goldfinch, 13;
Towhee, 1 ; Savannah Sparrow, 2; Junco, 180; Field Sparrow, 85; White-
throated Sparrow, 60 ; Fox Sparrow, 5 ; Swamp Sparrow, 33 ; Song Spar-
row, 185. Total, 52 species; 1,369 individuals. The fog, and heavy
clouds made determinations unusually difficult. — Mrs. R. C. Simpson,
John Grey, E. W. Winkler, Dan Martin, Bill Collie, C. S. Brimley, C. H.
Bostian, G. M. Garren, and George Maddrey, the latter two in the morn-
ing only (all members Raleigh Bird Club).

Winston-Salem, N. C. (Within an approximate fifteen-mile diameter,
including city lake reservation, along Salem Creek, Children’s Home
Grounds, Hanes’ Park, Reynolda, Lasater’s Lake, and several estates —
covering evergreen and deciduous forest, open country, and water.) Dec.
28 ; 6 :40 a.m. to 5 :30 p.m. Mostly cloudy with frequent showers and
occasional sunshine; unusually warm; temperature, high 66°, low 57°.
Seven parties. Total miles by auto, 40; total miles afoot, 25; total hours,
21. Canada Goose, 44; Mallard, 400; Black Duck, 10; Ring-necked
Duck, 1 ; Canvas-back, 1 ; Lesser Scaup, 2 ; Ruddy Duck, 1 ; Hooded Mer-
ganser, 2; Black Vulture, 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk, 3 ; Bob-white, 22; Coot, 1 ;
Woodcock, 1; Mourning Dove, 31; Screech Owl, 1; Flicker, 23; Hairy
Woodpecker, 3; Downy Woodpecker, 9; Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 110; Caro-
lina Chickadee, 24; Tufted Titmouse, 19; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3;
Brown Creeper, 4; Carolina Wren, 19; Mockingbird, 11; Robin, 14;
Bluebird, 6 ; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 6 ; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 ; Cedar
Waxwing, 70; Loggerhead Shrike, 1; Starling, 40; Myrtle Warbler, 9;
English Sparrow, 43; Meadowlark, 29; Cardinal, 69; Purple Finch, 45;
Goldfinch, 32; Towhee, 8; Junco, 152; Field Sparrow, 79; White-
throated Sparrow, 106; Fox Sparrow, 2; Song Sparrow, 103. Total, 45
species; approximately 1,566 individuals. Sharp-shinned Hawk seen Dec.
23 and Winter Wren recently, but missed on census day. — William F;
Ashby, Charles Babcock, Charles Babcock, Jr., William H. Chance, Jr.,
Fred Hill, Jr., Andrew Mickle, James L. Stephenson, William L.
Anderson, Jr.

THE CHAT

13

Index To "The Chat," Vols. MV

The index to the mimeographed volumes is printed instead of being
mimeographed that it may have more permanent form and perhaps wider
distribution. First issues were not page numbered throughout the year,
but by issues, which necessitated the issue number being inserted in paren-
theses.

We have on hand extra copies of all issues if you wish to complete your
files and have them bound. Complete volumes will some day be valuable.
Single issues can be furnished at 20c each, and a full volume for $1.00.

Ahoskie, 4:57

American Ornithologists’ Union,
3:58; 3:76

Anderson, Grace, 1(5-6): 6
Anderson, W. L., Jr., 3:8 4
Arden, 2(1):11; 3:70, 76; 3:28,
41; 4:8

Argentina, 4:50

Atlantic Voyage, Birds of, 1(3-4):
1-3

Audubon Prints, 2:35
Auk, Razor-billed, 3(2): 11
“Auk,” The, 3:76
Avocet, 4: 3

Back Bay Refuge, 3:65
Banding, 1(1):4; 4:63, 107; Brown-
headed Nuthatch, 1(1): 13; expe-
riences in, 3:47; 3:32; Gulls,

3: 26; Hawks and Owls, 1(2): 9
Battery Island, heron colony, 3:41
Beaufort, 1(1) :12; 1(2) :10; birds
of, 4:65

Biggs, Joseph D., 2:48; 3:43
Birds, the Friendly (presidential ad-
dress, 1939), 3:38
Bird Life on a Scottish Royal Sanc-
tuary, 2:60

Bird-Lore adds a Carolina season,
3:78

“Birds of North Carolina, the,” 4:94
Blackbird, Brewer’s, 1(2): 3
Blowing Rock, 1(2):10; 1:63, 67
Bluebird, “Tommy,” 4: Cl
Bob-white, Texas, 1(2):4; late nest-
ing, 1:67

Bogart, Sally, 4:62
Bostian, C. H., 3:85
Bragaw, Churchill, 3:43
Brevard, 2:76

Brimley, C. S., 1(1):4, 9; 1(2):1;
l(5-6):6; 2:30 (sketch of life);
2:40 (doctorate) ; 2: 49, 72 ; 3: 36,
65, 73, 85; 4:21, 86, 90
Brimley, H. H., 1(2):6; 2:41;

3:70; 4:88, 105
Brooks, Maurice, 4:16
Brooks, Thornton H., 2:(2):2

Brown, E. E., 4: 110
Buncombe County, the birds of,
4:21, 36

Busbee, Louise, 3:78

Cabarrus County, 3:40
Cairns, John S., 4:21
Cape Hatteras, the birds of, 3:1-20
Cape Lookout, 3:27
Caracara, Audubon’s, 2:73
Carolina Beach, 3:2 7
Carter, T. M., 2:36
Carteret County, 1(3-4): 7
Census, breeding bird, 2(2): 11
Census, Christmas, 2(1) : 7, 75; 4:5-
12

Census, Spring, 4:52-57
Chapel Hill, 2(1) :9; 2:37, 68, 77;
4:10, 52

Charlotte, 4:15, 59
Chat, Yellow-breasted, 1(1) :8; 3:24
Chickadee, Northern Carolina, 2:73
Clarkson, Mrs. Edwin, 4:59, 84
Classification of birds, changes in,
3:36-38

Clingman’s Dome, 2(1): 11
Collie, Roxie 1(5-6): 6
Concord, 3:27

Conservation, Realism in, 2(2): 3-8
Cottam, Clarence, 2(2): 11
Cowbird, breeding, Roanoke Island,
1(2):8; 1(5-6):10
Craighill, Francis H., 1(1) :5:

1 (5-6) :7; 2:33, 43; 3:38; 4:111
Creeper, Southern, 2:73
Crow, Fish, 2(1) :9; Southern,
I (2) :5

Cuckoo, Yellow-billed, 2:63
Currituck, 2:68

Davidson, 4:52
Davis, Maya, 3:22
Davis, Mrs. A. J., 3:25
Denton, 3:25

Destruction of birds by accidental
poisoning, 3:66
Dickcissel, 1 (2) :3
Dovekie, 4:4

14

THE CHAT

Dowitcher, Inland, 2:73; Long-
billed, 2:73
Duck, Black, 1(2) :4
Durham, 3:84; 4:62

Easiest Birding in North Carolina
(Mattamuskeet) , 4:13-14
Eastern North Carolina, notes from,
1(1) :7-8

Elizabethtown, 2:68

Elkin, 2:57; birds of, 4:96-104

Fayetteville, 1(5-6): 12; 2:68
Field Glasses, 3:29
Flamingo, American, in North Caro-
lina, 1:61; 2:72
Flicker, Southern, 1(2) :5; 1:68
Flora, Jerome B., 1(5-6): 3
Florida Audubon Society, 3:89
Foreword, 1 ( 1) : 1
Fox, Wade, Jr., 2:39

Gadwall, 4:2

Georgia Ornithological Society,
2:66; 3:89
Godwit, Marbled, 4:3
Golden-eye, Barrow’s, 1(2): 6
Goose, Blue, 2(2) :13; 4:2; Hutch-
in’s Canada, 1(2) :4; White-
fronted, 4:2

Grebe, Pied-billed, 1(5-6): 6
Green, Edwin L., 3:1
Greene, Earle R., 1:45
Greensljoro, 1(1):10; 2(2):2; 2:29,
39, 46, 75; 3:68; 4:9, 52
Greenville, 2:3 8

Grey, John H., Jr., 1(3-4) :1;

2(1) :2; 2:60, 72; 4:1, 18, 107
Grinnell, Mrs. D. W., 3:69
Grosbeak, Evening, 1(2): 3
Gull, Great Black-backed, 2(2): 13;
Iceland, 1 (2 ) : 3

Hagar, Joseph A., 2(2): 3
Hawk, Florida Red-tailed, 4:2;
Swainson’s, 1(2) :6; shooting of,
2:67

Healing Springs, Davidson County,
4:9

Henderson, 1(3-4) :6; 1:65; 3:33-
36 (sanctuary), 40; 4:42
Heron, Great White, 1(2) :2; rook-
eries, 1:60; 2:41-43, 65
Hodel, Earl M., 4:96
Hunter, Claudia, 3:33; 4:37

Ibis, Glossy, 1(2) :2; Wood, 2:68
International Committee for Bird
Preservation, 1(5-6) :1
Isle of May, 2(1) : 2-5

Jaegar, Pomarine, 1(2) :3

Jay, Blue, 1:68; Florida Blue,
1(2):5

Junco, Carolina, 2:51

Kanuga Lake, 2:53
Ketner, Mrs. J. T., 4:57
Kingbird, Arkansas, 1(2): 3
Kinglet, Yellow-crowned — Ruby-
crowned, 1(1) :9; Golden-crown-
ed, 3:25

Lake James, 1:67
Lapwing, 1(2) :3

Lark, Prairie Horned, 1(2): 11;
1(3-4) :6; 1:63

Lawrence, Harley C., 2(2): 10
Lay, George B., 1:60
Learn a bird a week, 1:62
Lenoxville, 1 (1) :12
Lewiston, 1(3-4) :6; 2(2) :12
Lexington, 1(2): 11
Local clubs, see Durham, Greens-
boro, Henderson, Raleigh, Salis-
bury, Southern Pines, Statesville,
Winston-Salem.

Local lists, value of, 4:90

McAllister, Lacy L., 1(2):7
Mcllwaine, Wm. B., Jr., 4:15
Mammals of North Carolina, 3:67
Martins, Purple, 1(2): 9; 1(5-6) :3;

1:64; 2(2) :8; 2:54; 3:22; 4:91
Massachusetts Audubon Society,
2(1):10; 2(2) :3

Mattamuskeet; annotated list, 170
species, 1:45-58; 2(2):10; 3:85;
4:13

Merganser, Red-breasted, 4:2
Micaville, Yancey County, 4:7
Migration, 1(5-6) :8; 2:33-35
Montreat, 3:67; 4:58
Morganton, 2:37

Murray, J. J., 1(1) :7; 1:63, 67-68;
2:51, 64; 4:90

My Ornithological Education (C. S.
Brimley), 2:30

Nag’s Head, 1(5-6) :11; 2(1) :12
Native trees and shrubs for bird
food, 3:78

Nature study, courses for, 4:58
North Carolina Bird Club; annual
meeting, 2(2):1; 2:27; 3:30-32;
4:40; executive board meeting,
3:62; fall meeting, 3:81; 4:88;
five-year program for, 4:37-39;
members, 1(1):5; 1(2):10;

l(3-4):4; l(5-6):7; 2:28; 3:24,
90; 4:20, 44, 91; membership
committee, 4:18; organization
meeting, 1(1): 2-3; summary for
1937, 2(1) :1

THE CHAT

15

North Carolina Bird Check-list, ad-
ditions and corrections, 1(1); 5;
l(2):l-6; 1(3):5; 1:64; 2:72-
74; 4:90

North Carolina Birds, gaps in knowl-
edge of, 3:65, 73, 85-89
Nest record cards, 4:6 4
Nests, 1(2) : 6
New Bern, 3:27
New River, 2:37; 3:29
Niagara, 2(1) :7
Nighthawk, Florida, 1(2) :5
Nuthatch, Brown-headed, 1(1): 13;
2:39

Ocean birds in winter, 4:49
Odum, Eugene P., 2:63
Onslow County, 1 ( 2 ) : 9
Orr, Mark Taylor, 3:24
Orton, 1(2);10; 2(2):12; 2:46
Owl, Eastern Screech, 1(2) :4; Flor-
ida Barred, 1(2) :5; Great Horn-
ed, 2:56; Saw-whet, 4:5; Snowy,
flight year, 2:4 6

Page, Gertrude W., 1(5-6): 5
Pea Island, 1:61, 65; 2:43, 52, 56,
68, 69; 3:60-62; 4:11, 86-88, 111
Pearson, T. Gilbert, 1(5-6) :1;

2(2):9; 3:64, 82; 4:50
Peters, Harold S., 4:42-44
Phalarope, Red, 4:3
Pigeon, Passenger, 1(2) :4; 1:62-63
Pinebluff, l(3-4):6; 1(5-6):10;

1:66; 2(1):5, 7
Pittsboro, 2(2) :13
Primrose, J. G., 2: 47 ; 3:32
Pritchett, H. D., 3:66
Pough, Richard H., 4:49

Quail, Valley, 2:73
Quay, Thomas L., 2:64; 3:60; 4:13,
52; Violet Quay, 3:60

Rail, Wayne’s Clapper, 2:74
Raleigh, 1(1): 9 (additions to list);
1(1):12, 13; l(3-4):8; 1(5-6):
10; 1:67; 2(1);8; 2(2):14;

2:30, 51, 64, 68, 70, 71, 78;
3:28, 41, 42; 4:8, 52
“Raven, the,” 1(2) ;9; 3:29
Redstart, 1 ( 1) : 8
Richmond County, 2:38
Roanoke Island, 1(2) ;8; 1(5-6):

10; 1:65

Roanoke Rapids, 2(2): 14
Robeson County, 1(1); 7
Robin, roosts, 2:36; 3:25; South-
ern, 1 ( 1 ) : 7

Rocky Mount, 1(1); 11; 1(2) :8;

l(3-4):7; 1(5-6):11; 1:65;

2(1) :9; 2:76; 3:28, 40; 4:7, 52,
112

Rosscraggen Wood, Inc., 3:69; 4:17,
52

Royal Shoal, the Royal Terns of,
3:70

Salisbury, 1(2):10; 2:38; 4:57
Sanborn, Nellie F., 1(1) ;9
Sanctuaries, city, see Ahoskie, Hen-
derson, Pinebluff, Rosscraggen,
Wood-Arden, Siler City, States-
ville

Scouts, bird study, 1(2) :7
Seasons bring parade of birds
(Statesville), 3:72
Shearwater, Audubon’s, 4:1; Great-
er, 4:1; Sooty, 4:105
Shelburne, Mary, 2:52; 3:43
Sheldrake, Ruddy, 1(2) :2
Shrike, Loggerhead, 1(1) :7; 1(3-
4);3; 2:49, 50

Sight record, when valid, 1(1): 4
Siler City, 3:22
Simpson, Roxie Collie, 4:65
Skyland, 3:41

Slocumb’s Creek, Craven County,
3:40

Smoky Mountains, 2(1) ;12; 4:11
Southern Pines, 1(1):9; 2(1):7;

2:29, 77; 3:74; 4:10, 60
Sparrow, Atlantic Song, 1(2) ;5;
Churchill Savannah, 2:74; Labra-
dor Savannah, 2:74; Mississippi
Song, 1:68; 2:74; Nelson’s

1(2): 6; Sharp-tailed, 1(2) :6
Spoonbill, Roseate, 1(2): 2
Spring roundup, 4:52-57
Starling, 1(1):7; 1(2):3; 2(2):9;
4:47-49

Statesville, 1(1): 11; 1(5-6) :9;

2(1):6; 4:52
Swallows, 4:18-19, 60
Swan, Trumpeter, 2(1); 10
Swannanoa, 1:67; 4:18

Teal, European, 1(2): 3

Tennessee Ornithological Society,
3*89

Tern, Forster’s, 1(5-6) :7; Gull-
billed, 2:43; Least, breeding hab-
its of, l(5-6):5; 2:64; Roseate,
4:3; Royal, 3:70; 4:107

Thrush, Willow, 2:74; 1:64

Towhee, Alabama, 1(2) :5; subsp.,
1(1):8

Tropic Bird, Yellow-billed, 1(2) ;2;
4:1

Unchecked increase of birds (theo-
retical), 3:36

Unusual records in 1939, 4:1-5

Vireo, Red-eyed, 1(5-6): 6

16

THE CHAT

Virginia Society Ornithology, 1(2):
11; 3:29

Warbler, Brewster’s, 1(2): 4; 2:49;
Kirtland’s, 1(1):5; 1(2):3; Law-
rence’s, 1(1):5; 1(2):4; 2:49,
51; Mourning, 4:58; Prothono-
tary, 2:48; Swainson’s, 1(1) :7;
Wayne’s, 1(2) :5; Yellow Palm,
1(1):8

Washington (N. C.), 1(3-4) :3;

1:65; 2(1):8; 2:30, 37, 56, 79;
3:28; birds of, 3:43-59; 4:6, 62
Waxwing, Cedar, 2:57
Whiteville, 2(1): 12
Wild life management in N. C.,
2(1):6

Wilding, Mrs. Weldon, 3:8 4
Williams, F. D., 4:47
Williamston, 2:38
Wilmington, 2:57

Wilson Bulletin, 3:89; Wilson Orni-
thological Club, 3:89; 4:16
Windom, 4:10

Winston-Salem, 2:68, 75; 3:84; 4:6
Wintyen, Mary Keller, 3:74; 4:60
Woodpecker, Red-headed, 2:52
Wren, Prairie Marsh, 1(2): 5 South-
ern Winter, 2:74; Wayne’s
Marsh, 1(2) : 5

Yellow - throat, Athens, 1(2) :5;
Northern, 1(2) :5; 4:90

New Monthly Check List

E. B. Brown, Davidson

With this issue of The Chat each member is receiving a copy of the new
Monthly Check List. The prime purpose of this list is to induce more
bird observers to keep accurate continuous records of species observed in
their localities. As has often been emphasized by Dr. Brimley, what we
need is not scattered observations from special field trips or particular
periods of the year but, rather, more continuous year-round series of obser-
vations, especially from unreported localities in the State.

The accompanying check list greatly simplifies the matter of keeping
continuous records. Results of every day’s observations, or of every field
trip, should be placed on this sheet. Dates may simply be placed at the
heads of columns, and checks made opposite the proper species names. (To
avoid mistakes in following down columns, it will be found helpful to
make about every fifth vertical line serve as a guide-line by ruling it heavier
than the adjacent ones.)

The average observer would probably not use up more than a couple of
the “Monthly Lists” during the year. Additional copies, as needed, may
be obtained from Dr. John H. Grey, 2718 Vanderbilt Avenue, Raleigh,
by enclosing a stamped envelope. It is suggested that every member who
may not keep records turn over his blank sheet to his local secretary, so
that it may be used by others.

c^nnouncements

FIELD TRIP to Mattamuskeet Lake, February 1, 1941.

ANNUAL MEETING to be held in Statesville, early in
May.

LOCAL CLUBS have a great opportunity to help get out
the bird book, by getting pre-publication orders. One
thousand such subscriptions to the Birds of North Caro-
lina will assure us of getting the book right away.

BELLS FOR YOUR CAT can be purchased at Rose’s Dime
Store or at Woolworth’s.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF BIRDS WANTED— Any good pic-
tures of birds, nests, or colonies of birds that will make
clear cuts for newspapers should be sent to Miss Claudia
Hunter, Henderson, N. C.

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA

By T. GILBERT PEARSON, C S. BRIMLEY
H. H. BRIMLEY

O

New and revised edition to be issued soon. Twenty-
four full page color pictures, 300 black and white
illustrations, over 400 pages of text giving accurate
and up-to-date information on 378 forms of bird life
recorded from the State.

Prepublication orders taken at $2.25 per copy for a
limited time. Send no money, but a card saying you
will take one or more copies.

o

NORTH CAROLINA STATE MUSEUM

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

PUBLISHED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
At State College Station
Raleigh, N, C,

The Chat

Bulletin of the North Carolina Bird Club

John Grey, Jr., Editor Thomas L. Quay, Associate Editor

State College Station, Raleigh, N. C.

Application for entry as second-class matter is pending.

Published five times a year on the fifteenth of January, March, May, September, and
November as the official organ of the North Carolina Bird Club. Articles for publication
should reach the Editor by the first of the month in which the Issue is published. Notifi-
cation of change of address or of lost copies should also be sent to the Editor.

Price of the bulletin, $1.00 per annum, included in all memberships.

VoL. 5

MARCH, 1941

No. 2

CONTENTS

PAGE

Adventures with Hummingbirds 17

Annual Winter Field Trip 19

Wild Duck Spends Week-End in Town 20

Annual Meeting at Statesville 21

Prairie Horned Lark Extends Breeding Range 22

The North Carolina Bird Book 23

Boone Audubon Club 23

Aids to Amateurs 24

Information Please 25

Mecklenburg Audubon Club 25

Hickory Bird Club 26

In Memoriam 27

Membership List 28

THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

Organized March 6, 1937, for the stutl.v and protection of our birds. Member-
ship is open to those interested in this work, and is divided into four classes :
Members, who pay dues of .$1.00 per year ; Sustaining Members, dues of $r).00
a year ; Contributing Members, dues of $25.00 a year ; Life Members, one lump
sura of $100.00. Nominations and applications for membership should be sent
to the Treasurer. Pre.sent officers :

President : Miss Claudia Hunter, Henderson ; First Vice-President : Dr. A. D.
Shaftesbury, W. C. U. N. C., Greensboro; Second Vice-President; John J. Sig-
wald, WiLson ; Third Vice-President; Mrs. Dodette W. Grinnell, Arden; Secre-
tary : Mrs. E. G. Flannagan, Henderson ; Treasurer : Dr. C. H. Bostian, State
C'Ollege Station, Raleigh; Editor: Rev. John Grey, Jr., State College Station,
Raleigh.

Adventures With Hummingbirds

A. M. Law, "rr.voii

While I have an intense interest in
all birds, 1 would probably be classed
as a specialist in Hummingbirds. Of
the known five hundred species we
have but one, the Ruby-Throated
Hummingbird {Archilochus coluhris),
to visit this section of the country.

The readers of The Chat may be
interested in my experiences and share
with me the resultant pleasures.

First, 1 would say that 1 have no
extensive flower garden to attract
these birds. Our home is located on a
small point of hilly land overlooking
the Pacolet Valley, with high moun-
tains close in the background, near the
village of Tryon. Nature has generously supplied the setting with quanti-
ties of early Rhododendron, Kalmia and other evergreens usually found in
the mountain country. But none of these have any particular attraction
for Hummingbirds, except in so far as their branches furnish hangers for
the little tubes of vari-colored glass in which the food is placed.

Purely as an experiment several years ago, I ordered a few feeders and
hung them on a Kalmia bush just off our terrace and quite near the house
where a good view could be had of the results. These tubes Avere filled
with a sugar and water solution, a half-and-half syrup, hastily mixed with-
out boiling, and almost immediately they were discovered and used by a few
birds. Later in the season, especially late in the afternoons, there were so
many birds coming in for their supper that many more tubes became neces-
sary. Now, during mid-summer we have literally swarms of Hummers at
feeding time, fighting and squeaking, jockeying for position at the dozen or
more tubes, and drinking them dry in a very short while. My experience
proves them to be gluttons for this sweetened water; drinking their fill,
then sitting around on nearby branches until they are ready to come back
for a re-fill.

Regular and continuous feeding is, of course, necessary in obtaining good
results with these as well as with all other birds. For they are certainly
creatures of habit, and I believe that the same birds come back to the
bushes 3'ear after 3'ear. This is known to be the case in many other birds.
As stated, we have no attractive flower garden as an invitation to visit our
place, 3Tt my first sight of Hummers in the spring is that of a single bird
sitting near the feeding post. When this occurred last 3ear, 1 immediately

17

From Alassacluisetls Audubon So-
<‘iety, ()() Newbury St., Boston Alass.
Five for $1.00.

18

THE CHAT

Courtesy Audubon Magazine. I^hoto by Allan D. Cruikshank.

THE Kl BV-THKOATEI) H IM M INBlil KI)

Will visit your garden, if invited.

mixed some syrup and placed a few tubes. Within live minutes this little
migrant was drinking. He was followed in a few days by many of his
comrades from their winter home in Central America. My regular feeding
time is upon returning from business around five o’clock. When 1 appear
at the front door they fly towards me and begin drinking while I am pour-
ing the food ; so close to my hands that 1 can feel the breeze created by
their fast-moving wings. So tame do they become that I am sure they
would, with a little encouragement, eat from my hands. But I have pur-
posely kept this thrill in reserve until the day comes when 1 have more
spare time to “play” with them. On Saturdays and Sundays I do not
strictly adhere to the usual week-day “cocktail hour” but feed them more
bountifully and find that they, like the Scotchman, will drink any “given
quantity.”

1 have mentioned tlie ease with wliich I have been able to attract these
little birds, and the pleasure they have given me. There are, however, the
usual pests that attend the bringing of birds in for close observation ; not
cats in this instance, but ants and vellow jackets. Ants immediately locate
the tubes, but generous use of tree tanglefoot will stop their depredations.
The birds will not come near their food if ants are in it. I have not
found an antidote for yellow jackets, but am hoping to overcome them
during the coming summer.

Even if you have a garden full of flowers and some Hummingbirds, put
out some tubes and see what pets they become.

1' H E C H A T

19

Annual Winter Field Trip

E. E. ]>RO\VN, Davidson

i\Iore than thirty stalwarts answered the rallying call of the Matta-
muskeet wildfowl. In partial return for their heroic expenditure of time
and energy, tlie faithful were treated to a sight of sixty species of birds.
Included were some twentj^-nine thousand Canada Geese, twenty-seven
hundred Whistling Swans, and thousands of ducks of eleven different kinds,
principally Pintail, Black, Baldpate, and Mallard. To further prove that
Mattamuskeet is the land of quantity, tremendous Hocks of Red-winged
Blackbirds, numbering many tliousands of individuals, disported themselves
evervwhere for all to see.

M any of the Held trippers spent Friday night at the very attractive
Mattamuskeet Lodge, located on the central canal outlet of the lake. At
sunrise Saturday morning. Dr. M. S. Johnson, Refuge Manager, led us
up the spiral stairway to the top of the 120-foot observation tower to get
an eagle’s-eye view of the bird life along the near side of the lake. Grain
had been scattered over part of a field in the foreground and several hun-
dred geese had already congregated here to feed. Farther out and to the
left, flocks of geese, swans and ducks were gathering in a small inlet. Still
farther away and along the lake shore to the right, a wonderful picture
was painted by long ranks of snow-white swans against shimmering
sapphire-blue water in the early morning sunlight. A Bald Eagle soared
over the scene, one of many seen in the course of the day.

After breakfast a more leisurely examination was made of the large
groups of waterfowl along the lake side. Ample advantage was taken of
Dr. Johnson’s 36-power “spotting scope’’ for close-up views. Toward the
end of the morning Tom Odum and Wade Fox came in with a swan,
picked up helpless along the lake shore. A victim, perhaps, of lead poison-
ing, the bird furnished excellent material for examination in the hand.

Following lunch the party split up. Smaller groups were taken, in turn,
by the patrol boat far out into Swanquarter Bay to spot some of the diving
ducks. Huge rafts of Scaup and smaller flocks of Bufile-head, Golden-eye
and Scoter were observed. Persons not on the boat drove around Matta-
muskeet Lake, identifying additional small birds or examining the occa-
sional large flocks of geese found feeding in the fields.

The North Carolina Bird Club is greatly indebted to Dr. Johnson for
the great deal of time he devoted to the field trip and for the many courte-
sies extended to the participants. No novice with waterfowl should miss
another chance to visit Mattamuskeet in mid-winter. Most of those on
the field trip will probably agree that the experience with swans and geese
alone was worth the trip.

The list of birds observed on the Mattamuskeet trip is as follows:
Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Whist-
ling Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Black Duck, Baldpate, Pintail, Green-

20

THE CHAT

winged Teal, Shoveller, Canvas-back, Scaup, American Golden-eye, Buffle-
head. Red-breasted Merganser, Turkey and Black Vultures, Cooper’s,
Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, and Marsh Hawks, Bald Eagle, Bob-white,
Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe, Herring Gull, Mourning Dove, Kingfisher,
Flicker, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Tree Swallow, Crow,
Chickadee, Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Short-
billed Marsh Wren (the Tree Swallow and Short-billed Marsh Wren
records are not unusual for our coast in winter). Mockingbird, Catbird,
Robin, Bluebird, American Pipit, Starling, Myrtle Warbler, Yellow-
throat, English Sparrow, Meadowlark, Redwing, Purple Grackle, Cow-
bird, Cardinal, Towhee, Junco, Savannah, Field, White-throated, Swamp,
and Song Sparrows.

Club members present for the trip were Mrs. J. D. Harris of Belhaven,
Mrs. E. AE Brown of Washington, Dr. Al. S. Johnson of New Holland,
AE W. Haynes of Tarboro, Katherine Fletcher, Leonora H. Watts,
Fannie Sutton, and Hannah Turnage of Kinston, Charlotte Hilton Green,
Mrs. Frank Smethurst, Wood Smethurst, and E. W. Winkler of Raleigh,
Claudia Hunter of Henderson. Air. and Airs. O. F. Jensen, G. F. Shep-
herd, Jr., Thomas Odum and Wade Fox of Chapel Hill, Bertha B. Hop-
kins, 'Fhos. J. Jones, Thos. B. Daniel, and H. K. Alyers of Durham,
Edith Settan, Hilda Yoder, Alargaret Y. Wall, and Etta Schiffman of
Greensboro, Gabriel Cannon of Spartanburg, Air. and Airs. E. O. Clark-
son, Dorothy Knox, Airs. R. A. Al3'ers, and Charles Sellers, Jr., of Char-
lotte, and E. E. Brown of Davidson.

A Wild Duck Spends The Week-End In Town

Maky Akeks, Charlotte
(12 years old)

After tliree days of hard driving rain, Friday afternoon, November 15th,
the sun peeped from the gray clouds. It was an invitation for a walk.
I put on my coat and overshoes and started out. Down the long wooded
drive 1 went. Being suddenly startled by a flapping of wings, 1 paused
and saw what seemed to be a quail at first glance but as 1 got closer I saw
to my great surprise that it was a duck. It fought nobly as I tried to
catch it. Flapping its wings and hissing at me, it was finally exhausted
and then I gently picked it up. It seemed content to lie in my arms but
I knew it was frightened. 1 felt its heart beating very fast. I carried
it back to the house, stroking its feathers all the way. It seemed to like
that. Once in the warm house, I examined it but found no broken wings.
The duck seemed only very tired. Knowing it must he hungry, I offered
it corn, sardines, and even oysters but all to no avail. It ate nothing.
Then it occurred to me that ducks like water. I filled a bowl of cool

THE CHAT

21

water, picked the duck up, and held it so it could drink. To my amaze-
ment it jumped with a splash into the bowl. From then on 1 knew it
would only be content when near water.

Saturday morning 1 took the duck to a veterinarian. He said it was a
Spoon Bill Teal flying South from New York and Canada. (There is no
duck by this name, but it may have been the Shoveller. — Ed.) It must
have fresh sea food, such as shrimp, to eat. When I brought the duck home
it was very thirsty, so I got a big pan and put several shrimp on the
bottom. The duck would dive down to the bottom of the pan for the
shrimp.

Sunday dawned bright and warm. I put the duck on the sunny terrace
thinking that it was too weak to fly away as yet. While 1 was at church,
the bright sun and the falling brown leaves must have brought back
memories of the other Spoon Bills flying South. With one great pull of
the wings, the duck was once more in the great blue sky. After seeing
his box empty I looked South and said, “1 hope you have had a pleasant
week-end.”

Annual Meeting At Statesville, May 2-3, 1941

The fifth annual meeting of the North Carolina Bird Club will be held
in the Statesville Community House, Friday and Saturday, May 2 and 3,
1941. Hosts for the meeting will be the Statesville Audubon Club. The
meeting will open at 2:00 o’clock Friday afternoon for the reading of
papers and transaction of business. The annual banquet will be held at
6:00 o’clock at the Vance Hotel at $1.00 per plate. Reservations should
be made with the hotel and must be paid for unless canceled before noon
Friday. Toastmaster for the banquet will be Colonel Joseph Hyde Pratt,
of Chapel Hill ; and the Presidential address will be delivered by Miss
Claudia Hunter, of Henderson.

The main event will be the evening meeting at 8:30 o’clock at Mitchell
College, at which Arthur Stupka, Park Naturalist of the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, will speak on “Birds of the Great Smoky
Alountains National Park.” Those of us who have heard Mr. Stupka and
seen his color pictures know' what a treat is in store for the club.

Saturday’s field trip wull begin wfith coffee at 6:30 a.m. at the Com-
munity House, followed by the field trip led by competent observers and
w'ill close w'ith the Statesville Audubon Club playing host to breakfast at
the Grace Hotel at 10:30 a.m.

Those who will read papers at the Friday afternoon meeting are asked
to send the title to Miss Grace Anderson, Statesville, N. C., before April
15. All papers will be limited to fifteen minutes.

22

THE CHAT

Prairie Horned Lark Extends Breeding Range

C. >S. Brimley, Raleigh

i'KAIKIE IIOKNEI) EARK

On June 17, Miss Grace Anderson wrote me that Maurice Stimson had
notified her that there was a nest with young of the Prairie Horned Lark
{Otocoris alpestrls praticola) , on J. C. Crawford’s farm in Iredell County,
not far from Statesville, and on the 18th she went out, saw the nest and
young and also the adults and confirmed the determination.

Later, on July 12, D. L. Wray saw another nest, also with young, on
the farm of R. W. Johnson, near Union Grove, in the same county hut
about twenty miles farther north. I wrote Miss Anderson about this and
she went out to see it on the 18th, and reported that Mr. Johnson had had
a pair of these “curious birds’’ on his farm for two years, peculiar because
of their “straight-up’’ flight. He had heard no singing, only “funny little
cries.’’ He had identified the birds as Prairie Horned Larks by Miss
Anderson’s description in the local paper.

At Rocky Mount, although no nest was found, these birds were detected
in the breeding season by F. H. Craighill. Two specimens, one apparently
a young bird, were seen on June 29, in a field in which specimens had been
observed in May of the same year.

This species is rapidly extending its breeding range southward, for the
4th A. O. U. check-list, issued in 1981, gives the southern limits of the
breeding range as West Virginia and Maryland. A few years back they
were recorded as nesting along the Blue Ridge in Virginia at Lexington,
Lynchburg, and Naruna. On April 13, 1937, Nelson G. Hairston ob-
served a nest and fledgling with an adult female on the golf course at
Lexington, N. C., and on August 17, 1937, J. J. Murray at Blowing Rock
observed 8 birds, 7 of which he took to he young, and on August 13, 1936,
he had seen one bird fly over this region. These records indicate that the
species is pushing southward along the Atlantic seaboard and is not con-
fined to the Piedmont or the mountain region, as is evidenced hy the record
at Rocky Mount.

'r H K c H A 'r

23

You Can Help With The North Carolina Bird Book

llAHKY T. Davis, State Museniu, Italeigh

We need the revised edition of The Birds of North CaroHiid. We have
three things in our favor and one thing against us. The favorable things
are: The original authors are willing to contribute their services and
knowledge; original plates which can be used for illustrations; and State
agencies which are willing to work with us on a non-profit basis.

Our chance of getting an excellent volume at low cost is held back by
only one thing. The State agencies are asking if the book can be sold
right away so that their investment will not be tied up in the volume for a
long time. They point to the fact that in the past most State publications
never sold in sufficient quantities to clear much of the funds invested.

^'herefore we can help get the book published if we can prove it will
sell. Here is your chance to help. There are more than a thousand people
in North Carolina who would like to buy a copy of this revised edition of
the book, and there are nearly as many outside the State who will need
copies. There are also more than a thousand school libraries that should
have copies for reference. All these should be told of the book and given
the opportunity of securing a copy. The present plan is to issue only 2,000
copies, which will probably be sold within a year. The publication price
will be $3.00 for a book of more than 400 pages, which is cheaper than the
rate for novels.

That we may prove the book will sell like hot cakes we are offering it
for a limited time at the prepublication price of $2.25, which is the actual
cost of printing. One thousand prepublication orders will insure us of the
book. The 700 subscriptions we now have are a good start. A little
application by every member of the North Carolina Bird Club should
easily quadruple this. Every local bird club should take up the matter of
securing these subscriptions and rush them in. Send no money but simply
send a statement that j"ou will take one or more copies. All subscriptions
should be sent to the N. C. State Museum, Raleigh.

Boone Audubon Club

Mrs. Edna T. TIorkrtson

Another chapter of the North Carolina Bird Club, the Boone Audubon
Club, was organized at Boone on February 12, 1941. The following
officers were elected: president, Dr. Maude E. Cathcart ; vice-president,
IMrs. Edna T. Robertson; secretary-treasurer, Mrs. J. A. Davis. Mr.
Robert R. King, Jr., is serving as general representative of the clidi.

Dr. Cathcart brings a rich supply of bird-lore to the group, having
studied under Dr. Shaver, of Peabody College, and taught ornithology in
the Appalachian College summer school.

24

THE CHAT

Aids To Amateurs

What Common Land Birds Are Blue?

C. vS. BRIilLEY

Four. The male and female of the Bluebird and Blue Jay, and the
male only of the Indigo Bunting and Blue Grosbeak.

The Blue Jay is larger than a robin, crested, blue above with black and
white markings on wings and tail, a black crescent across the breast, other-
wise white beneath. The Bluebird is tlie size of the English Sparrow, blue
above, throat and breast reddish brown, belly white ; female duller. Both
this and the Jay are with us the year around. The Blue Grosbeak is the
same size as the Bluebird. The adult male is entirely blue except for the
chestnut wing bars; immature birds with less blue; females brown, some-
times with more or less blue. The bill is light colored, very large and
heavy; much like a cardinal. The Indigo Bunting is a small edition of
tlie Blue Grosbeak (sometimes called the Big Indigo) but blue on the
wings as well as on the rest of the body, and with a much smaller bill.
The females and young males are brown. I do not remember ever having
.seen a partly blue specimen. Both indigo birds are with us from late
April to September.

[Bditoh'.s Notf:: Dr. Brimh'y has coiisciited to make this column, “Aids to
Amateurs.” a regular feature of The Cir.xT.]

THE C H A T

25

Information Please

T. L. (,)UAY

Many letters are received by the editors each month from club members
asking for information about bird houses, establishing local refuges, attract-
ing birds, etc. Below is a list of some of the United States Department
of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Bulletins, which answer many of the questions
much better than can be done in any other way. Any member desiring
some one or all of these informative bulletins may address his request to
Mr. L. C. Whitehead, District Agent, Fish and Wildlife Service, State
College Station, Raleigh, North Carolina. Also copies of these and other
related bulletins are on sale at five cents each by the Superintendent of
Documents, Washington, D. C.

Some Common Game, Aquatic, and Rapacious Birds in Relation to Man.
No. 497. The practical value of nineteen species of common large birds.
28 pages.

Common Birds of Southeastern United States in Relation to Agriculture.
No. 755. The twenty-three birds discussed are all common in North
Carolina, and form an excellent nucleus, especially for beginners. 43
pages.

Homes for Birds. No. 1456. Includes dimensions and diagrams of nest
boxes and roosting shelters for all the forty-eight birds that will use
houses, as well as suggestions for placement and protection. Everyone
interested in having birds around his home will want to make use of this
invaluable information. 21 pages.

Local Bird Refuges. No. 1644. Deals with the establishment of local
refuges as a means of attracting birds, on farms, wood lots, roadsides,
rights of way, community parkings, municipal parks, school grounds,
cemeteries, reservoirs, and golf courses. 14 pages.

Organization Of The Mecklenburg Audubon Club

CuARA P.. Slaton. Charlotte

For a year or more, spurred on by the enthusiasm of Miss Sarah Nooe
and Mr. and Mrs. Edwin O. Clarkson, the desire for an organization of
bird lovers in Mecklenburg County has led step by step to the first meeting
of the Adecklenburg Audubon Club on November 6, 1940. This meeting
was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clarkson, which is likewise the
habitat of Tommie Bluebird Clarkson.

Last spring, after a most successful field trip by the North Carolina
Club at Henderson, Charles Sellers, of Charlotte, suggested that the time

26

THE CHAT

was right for the people of our county to take a more active part in bird
conservation. The suggestion led to talk of a club, and to the gathering
of a small group of interested people at the Clarkson home. It was decided
that the approach of summer and the probable scattering of the group
would make it wise to delay until fall. The fall meeting of the State Club
in Charlotte provided a final spur and the club was launched on its first
year.

With a Constitution much like that of the State organization, the
Mecklenburg Club elected Miss Clara Slaton, president; Miss Sarah Xooe,
vice-president; Mrs. G. C. Potter, secretary; and Charles Sellers, treasurer.

A membership and hospitality committee, headed by Miss Sarah Nooe,
was assigned the task of discovering other bird lovers who would be inter-
ested in the club, establishing junior clubs throughout the schools of the
county, and seeing that all members were made to feel at home during the
social hour which follows each meeting. A committee on bird education
was asked to plan ways of interesting and educating the Mecklenburg
public in an understanding of birds and their habits and in problems of
conservation. A committee on held trips, headed by Mrs. G. C. Potter,
was asked to plan two trips a month, and to notify members of good held
trip areas for individual study. A circulating library committee was
asked to suggest appropriate books, through the editor, to see that books
loaned or contributed by members were circulated properly and that each
member had his turn at Bird-Lore (now the Audubon Bulletin).

Mrs. Clarkson is editor and head of the program committee, and Mr.
Clarkson is chairman of ways and means. The club already has had the
pleasure of hearing Mr. Ely Springs and Mr. James Carson, owners of
some of the original Audubon prints, discuss their bird interests, and has
had the rare privilege of bringing Dr. Arthur A. Allen, of Cornell Lbii-
versity, to a Charlotte audience.

Dues for the local club were set at a dollar a couple, so that by a combi-
nation membership, a family could more easily belong to both the State
and local organizations. There are now about twenty paid members and
a number of interested associates. The Mecklenburg Club, through its
affiliation with the State Bird Cluh, the National Audubon Society, and
the North Carolina Academy of Science, hopes to contribute much of
educational value to its community.

Hickory Bird Club

Mus. Geoiu:?: E. Eisaxak. Hickory

The organization meeting of the Hickory Bird Club was held Friday
afternoon, November 15, 1940, in the assembly room of the Duke Power
Company. J. Weston Clinard was elected president; Reverend Harry O.

THE CHAT

27

Althouse, vice-president; and Mrs. George E. Bisanar, secretary-treasurer.
M iss Grace Anderson, president of the Statesville Club, was in charge of
the program. A short held trip was taken after the meeting.

The new club meets on the second Thursday evening of each month, in
the Brotherhood Room of the Corinth Reformed Church. Several projects
are already under way, such as adding to our knowledge of the birds of
Western North Carolina and developing a campaign in Catawba County
for membership in the State Club.

M rs. Clinard, who is principal of the Brookford School, a part of the
Hickory system, held her annual exhibit of bird projects on February 28.
Due to Mrs. Clinard’s many 3^ears of work with the school children, there
is widespread interest in birds in Brookford. The indications are that
Brookford village will soon be added to our growing list of municipal
sanctuaries.

3n iMfinoriam

DR. JOHN THOMAS JOHNSON BATTLE, born at Wake Forest
1859, died in Greensboro September, 1940, where he had been practicing
medicine since 1898, and had been Medical Examiner of the Jefferson
Standard Life Insurance Company since 1918. He organized one of
Greensboro’s first Boy Scout troops, was a leader in the religious life of the
city, and was active in organizing Greensboro’s Piedmont Bird Club and
served as its President. He was general chairman of arrangements for the
first fall meeting of the North Carolina Bird Club held in Greensboro in
November, 1939, and tbe success of the meeting was due largely to his
perfect handling of arrangements.

AIERRIAM GARRETSON LEWIS, charter member of the North
Carolina Bird Club, died at Salem, Virginia, January 5, 1941. Born in
1893, educated at the Universitj^ of Kentucky; one of the founders and
presidents of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. His service as farm
agent in Scott, Rockbridge, and Roanoke counties brought him many posi-
tions of responsibility, particularly in connection with the Apple Growers’
Association. He was a naturalist, and leader in church, civic, and welfare
activities.

28

THE CHAT

Membership List, North Carolina Bird Club

March 20, 1941

C'O NT K I B I TI N (i ME M BEKS

<iiiitliani. Kioliard T., Jr., 112 Stratford Cliatliain, Thurmond, Elkin.
Koad, M'inston-.Saleni.

SrST.AINING MEJIBERS

Anderson, Miss Grace, 528 Walnut St.,
Statesville.

Brasraw, Churchill. Orton I'lantation, Win-
nahow.

Brimle.v, Dr. C. S., N. C. Dept. Agriculture,
Raleigh.

Brimle.v. II. H.. N. C. State Museum, Ra-
leigh.

Brown, Dr. Elmer E., Box 486, Davidson
College.

Cone, l^dward T.. 417 Riverside Drive, Apt.
4-D, New York Cit.v.

Cone, Mrs. .Iiilius W., Greensboro.

Craighill, Rev. l'ranci.s H., 225 N. Church
St., Rocky 5lount.

Empie, T. G., Box 772, IVilmington.

Greene, .Mrs. .\nne Bosworth, Tryon.
l.ewis, Richard 11., tlxford.

None, 5Iiss Sarah 51., (Jueens College, Char-
lotte.

Rankin. II. .\., Jr., Box 863, Fayetteville.
Shafteslnir.v, Dr. A. 1)., W. C. F. N. C.,
Greensboro.

Sigwald, Capt. and Mrs. John J., 505 I’eace
St., Fayetteville.

Thompson, Maters, Southport.

ME.MBERS

.\kcrs, .Mrs. J. J., Box 1471, Charlotte.

■ Mien. .Murra.v, Es<i., 60!) Security Bank
Bldg., Raleigh.

.Mien. -Mrs. I’aul, 2100 Roswell .-Vve., Char-
lotte.

.Mlison, .Ma.jor M'illiam 1,., 318 Davie Ave.,
Statesville.

Allison, Mrs. William E., 318 Davie Ave.,
Statesville.

.Mston. M'm. F., Dept. Botan.v, State Col-
lege Station, Raleigh.

■Mthouse, Rev. II. <)., Ilickor.v.

.\nderson. Dr. .Alan R., 24!) 4V. Alerrick
Koad, Freeport. N. A .

Anderson, Bill, 623 Clover St., AVinston-
Salern.

.Anderson, .Miss Elizabeth, AY. C. F. N. C.,
Greensboro.

.Anderson, II. C., Henderson.

Anderson, .Aliss Ina, 528 AA'alnut Street.
•Statesville.

.\|)pleberr.v. Mrs. Cecil 51., 1105 Grace

Street, AA'ilmingtou.

.Armllehl, J. II., .Asst. I’ostmaster, Greens-
boro.

.Armlleld, H. B., 211 State Office Building,
Raleigh.

.A.vco<'k. Mrs. Mildred G., Fremont.

Balu'ock, Charles, J r., Fpland Drive, Green-
wich. Conn.

Baldwin, Dean .Alice 51.. AA'oman’s College,
Duke Fniversil.v, Durham.

Ball, 5liss .Alice E., Tryon.

Barrow. Aliss El\a. Chemislr.v Dept., AA'. C.
F. N. ('., (Jreensboro.

Bickiiell, 51 rs. .lessie A ., .Altamont.

Biggs, -loseph 1)., AA’ashingtoii.

Bisanar, James AA'., Ilickor.v.

Bland. Miss l.aura Elizabeth, I’. (). Box
080, AVinstoii-Salem.

Blankenship, Airs. S. I’., 502 Davie Ave.,
Statesville.

Bluethenthal. Airs. Herbert, Alarket Street,
AA ilmiiigton.

Boardman, Bill, 2221 Ho|>edale .Ave., Char-
lotte.

Boardman, Airs. AA'. K.. Jr., 2221 Hopedale
■ Ave., Charlotte.

Boling. Airs. F. J., Siler Cit.v.

Boslian, Dr. C. IE, State College Station,
Raleigh.

Bragaw, AA'illiam, 1825 St. Alar.v’s Street,
Raleigh.

Braswell Alemorial Eibrar.v, Rocky Aloiint.

Breckcnridge, .Arnohl, Chapel Hill.

Brenizer, Airs. .Addison. 2218 Hopedale Ave.,
Charlotte.

Briggs, AA'illis G., 1546 Iredell Drive, Ra-
leigh.

Brimle.v, Airs. 11. IE, 106 .Ashe .Ave., Ra-
leigli.

Brimle.v, Raliih, Central I’ark School, AA'ins-
ton-Salem.

Brintnall, Airs. A. AA'., Tr.von.

Brooks, Dr. Alaurice. AA'. A'a. I'niversit.v,
Alorgantown, AA'. A irginia.

Brooks, Thornt<tn, 001 N. C. Bank Build-
ing. Greensboro.

Brown, Airs. P). AE, AA'ashington.

Brown, Airs. Frank R., !)17 AA'alker .Avenue,
Greensboro.

Brown, Aliss Alildred, 128 ,S. P'ulton St.,
Salisbiir.v.

Brown, Dr. Roy AE. Chapel Hill.

Browne. Dr. AA'm. Hand, .Ir., State College
Station, Raleigh.

Br.van, Air. and Airs. AA'. H.. .Ahoskie.

Br.vant, I’egram .A.. Statesville.

Buck, I'rank 1’.. AA'ile.v .Avenue, Salisbur.v.

Buell, Airs. J. IE, 42 Tacoma St., .Asheville.

Bullock, Airs. R. D.. Box 966. Kock.v Alount.

Bunch. Bob, N. Center Street, Statesville.

Bunn, Charles E. Zoolog.v De|>t., N. C.
State College, Raleigh.

Burden, J. AE, .Aidander.

Burroughs, K. Irvine, Route 3. Henderson.

Busbee, Aliss Eouise, 1818 I’ark Drive, Ra-
leigb.

Cabell. R. Clyde, 810 Swann Street. I’ar-
kersbiirg, AA'. A'a.

Calfee, Airs. .lohn P]., Arden.

Campbell, Aliss Hazel, Koute I, AA'est Jef-
ferson.

Cannon. Airs. C. .A., Box 416, Concord.

Cannon, Gabriel. S|>artanburg, S. C.

Carr, Airs. George AA'afts, 15 Oak Drive,
l‘'orest Hills, Durham.

Carnegie I’liblic Eibrar.v, AA'inslon-Salem.

Carroll. Airs. C. P'., ,lr., 1108 Johnson .St.,
Higli I’oint.

Carson, ,1. IE, 1205 Biltmore Drive, Char-
lotte.

r H E C H A 1

29

(liaiu’t*, AV. If.. 8:{() Arlxir KoskI. ff'iiisfoii-
Snleni.

Cliapnian. .Miss Kose. 2 M'oodlf.v .\veiiuc,
.\she\ ille.

Clieek. >lrs. ('lias. ('., Sanford.

Cliosliiro. .lainos A\'.. Hillsboro.

('liiiroh. .Mrs. M. I... I(i2(> (iiioens Road ffest,
Cliarlolto.

( lark, Miss Kosainoiid. IJox 2(19, .Statosville.

Clark, .Mrs. S. N.. Sr.. Tarboro.

Clarkson. .Mr. and Airs. Edwin ()., 248
Kiditewood .\vo.. CbarlotU*.

CUniont. Airs. (i. I.otta. Nik-Nar. Itiltmore
Station. .Asheville.

( line. Airs. AA . 1*., 1829 Chestnut St., AA il-
ininifton.

Clinard, .1. AA’eston. Iliekor.v.

Coehran, Airs. Don, 181 Park St., States-
ville.

Cidver. Coit Al.. Uox 9.5”, Chape! Hill.

Coitnor. Dr. K. D. AA'., Archivist liiiildini;;,
AA'ashinKton. 1). C.

Conrad. Airs. Charles. Tr.von.

Cooper. Henr.v. AAake Eorest.

Cooper, .1. C., Henderson.

Cooper. •!. D., Henderson.

Cooper. Aliss Sarah, Cleininons.

Corbett. Airs. AA'. AA'., Alebane.

Corpenins:, Airs. Clifton. A anee Hotel. States-
ville.

Cox. (ieorire. 4 Eerndale l.ane, Raleigh.

Craven, AA'illiani. 108 AA'. Alominient St.,
Haltiinore, Aid.

Cravner. Dr. AA’m. E., 82 Cumberland Ave.,
Asheville.

Crawford. Airs. N. R., 29th Infantr.v, Ft.
Henninjf, Ga.

Creijfl'ton. Mrs. Thomas S.. 10 Greenwood
Rd.. Hiltmore Eorest. liiltmore.

Cioekford. Airs. H. I).. Box 81(i. Chapel Hill.

Crosby. Charles. Catawba. S. C.

Cunninsrham. Aliss Alildred, 111 Fisher Park
Circle, Greensboro.

Current, Dr. AA". C., 221 North Oak Street,
Statesville.

Curtis, Airs. Carlton C.. Tr.von.

Dameron, Airs. AA'. H., AA’arrenton.

Darsie. J. C.. Route 1. Box 150, .Salisbur.v.

Davidson, Aliss Azile, Raee St., Statesville.

Davie .Avenue School Eibrar.v, Aliss Cl.vde
Fields. Principal. Statesville.

Davis, Airs. A. .1.. Henderson.

Davis, Airs. Earl, 019 Davie .Ave., States-
ville.

Davis, Airs. Harry T., 102 I-ORan, Raleigh.

Davis. Harry T., Es(|., State Alnsenm, Ra-
leii^h.

Davis, Airs. J. A. AA'., Boone.

Davis. Airs. James AA'., Race .Street, States-
ville.

Davis, Airs. Alattenya .A., 428 E. Second St.,
AA'ashiiiKton.

Derendinjfer, Dr. Ernst, Catawba CoIIckc,
Salisbur.v.

Detomble, Airs. Fred, Club Park Road,
AA'inston -Salem.

Deviseonti. Tal)ilha AI., 213 S. Alain St.,
Farm ville.

Dodd. Airs. F. P., AA'ake Forest.

Don);hton, Airs. John Belk, Brookdale,
Statesville.

Driver. E. H.. .Am. C.vanimid and Chemical
Corp.. Charlotte.

Drum. Airs. N. E.. Saint Pauls.

Eakes, .1. T., 421 Goshen St., Oxford.

Earl. Airs. J. B., Siler Cit.v.

Earl.v, I.ac.v Al.. AA'indsor.

Easle.v, Aliss Eleanor B., AA'ake Forest.

Eaton. Aliss Eonise. Oxford Orphanatfe. Ox-
ford.

Edwards. H. AI., 905 North Alain Street,
Salisbury.

Eliason, Aliss Nanc.v, Chapel Hill.

Ellington, Dr. R. H., Salisbur.v.

Emer.v, Airs. G. 11., Davie .A\e., Slatesvil'e.

English, Donahl, 1807 Aliller Street, AA ins-
ton-.Salem.

Ennett, Dr. N. Thomas, Greemille.

EtheridHre, R. Bniee, N, C, Dept, of Con. A;
Develop., Raleigh.

Evans, Air. and Airs. AA'. F.. Brownsbnrt;.
Ind.

Farrar, Airs. P. ('., Chapel Hill.

Farthinfi:. 11. Grad.v, Dist. (lame and Fish
I'rotector, Boone.

Fechtifj:. Aliss Allie AI., 1810 Prim'ess St.,
AAilmiiiKton,

Ferrell, Aliss AIoll.v, 310 Stratford Roa<l,
AA'inston- Salem.

Finch. I’. B., Kittrell.

Flanattran, Airs. E. G.. 215 AoiinR St., Hen-
derson.

Fletcher. Aliss Alaria. Fletcher.

F(dk, Eddie. AA'ake l*'orest.

Foiir(|urean. Airs. J. P., 5231 Powhatan

Ave., Norfolk, A'a.

Fox, AA’ade, Jr., 108 E Dorm., Chapel Hill.

Fo.v, Aliss Bessie, Oriental.

Francke. Airs. I,. J.. Glen Head, N. Y.

Fries, Dr. Harold II., 92 Reade Street, New
A'ork, N. Y.

Fuller, Frank, Box 820, Salisbur.v.

Fulton, Dr. B. B., State College .Station.
Raleijrh.

Funderbnrke, Aliss Fannie. Gastonia.

Funderburk, Dr. Guy B., Apex.

Gaither, Airs. E. G., 255 N. Center Street,
Statesville.

Garren, G. AI., Box 864, Raleigh.

Gary, Aliss Alariel, Raleigh Road, Hender-
son.

GilT'ord. E. C.. Iliekor.v.

Ginter, Air. and Airs. K., 260 Ridgewood
.Avenue, Charlotte.

Glenn. Airs. E. F.. Fort Bragg Road, Fay-
etteville.

(Jold, Airs. .Tohn 1)., AA’ilson.

Gove. Dr. .Anna Al., 517 Highland .Av<“.,
Greensboro.

Gooch, Cl.vde E.. New Eaw Olfice Building,
Salisbury.

Grad.v, Judge Henry .A.. Clinton.

GraA', Aliss Alamie, (ireen Street, Fa.vette-
ville.

Green, Edwin I.., Jr., Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Green, R. AA'., Ext. AA'bite Oak Rd.. Raleigh.

Green, Airs. R. AA'., Ext. AA bite Oak Rd..
Ralei,gh.

Gregor.v, Rev. C. E.. First Presb.vterian
Church, Alorganton.

(irey. Rev. John H., Jr.. 2718 A anderbilt
Ave., Raleigh.

Grier. Airs. R. D., 421 AA'alniit St.. States-
ville.

Grinnell. Airs. I). AA'.. Arden.

(iufl'e.v. Airs. T.eon. Route 2. Cleveland.

Gnion. George Seth. Esp., 1701 .Am. Bank
Bldg.. New Orleans, Ea.

Habel, Aliss Alargaret. 327 E. .lones Street.
Riileigh.

Hall, Prof. Earl IE. AA'. C. F. N. ( .. Greens-
boro.

IlaiK’kel, Aliss Alarien, Crab Creek Route.
Hendersonville.

Harrelson, Col. .1. AA'.. State College Station.
Raleigh.

Harris, Airs. Carl, Box 1001 , AA'inston-Salem.

Harris. Aliss Emma S., Alebane.

Harris, Airs. R. R.. .Arden.

Harris, Airs. ,S. R.. Jr.. Ralcigb Road. Hen-
derson.

Harrison, E. IE, Salisbur.v.

Harrison, Dr. T. I’., 1800 Park Drive, Ra-
leigh.

lln.ynes, Alilford AA’.. Box 731. Tarboro.

Heahl, Dr. Eugene He F., Iliekor.v.

Hearne, Aliss Clara, Roanoke Rapi<ls.

THE CHAT

30

Heiii/.erliiiff, Mrs. .J. E., 113 Triidd Street.
Statesville.

Hieke.v, JIrs. W. I*., 143“ Scotland .Avenue,
Charlotte.

IliKliam, Mrs. .lohn A'., Carroll Drive, Ka-
leiKh.

Hill, Clarence II., 403 S.veaniore St., Greens-
boro.

Ilodel. Earl M.. Elkin.

IIoH'inan. Dr. AVallaee, 52(5 AA est End Ave.,
Statesville.

IDdlabauKli, I’anl. (i03V^ Alarket St., Far-
kersbnrsr, AV. Va.

Holmes, Mr. and Airs. G. H., Trj'on.
lltdmes, George H., .Ir.. .Saluda.

Holmes. ,1. S., X. C. Dept. Con. & Develop-
ment. Kalei){l>-

Hood. Airs. Frazer. Davidson.

Horne. .1. E., .Ir., Koek.v Alount.

Hosliour, Airs. Samuel, Alansioii Park Hotel,
RaleiKb.

Horton, \\ ilkius P., I’ittsboro.

Hudson. H. <5., AA'aeliovia Hank HnildiiiK,
Alins ton- Salem.

Hmrbe.v, Hert, 303 X. Center St., States-
ville.

Hunter, Aliss .Annie Al., Henderson.

Hunter. Aliss Claudia AA\, Henderson.
Hurle.v. .1. F., Salisbury.

IlutebiuKs. Aliss I.ida, Piuel>Inll'.

Hutebins, .lames. AA'imlom.
llutt. Airs. A\'. X.. Box 865, Southern Pines.
Inyrram, Airs. .1. T.. South Alulberr.^- Street,
I.enoir.

.lenks. Airs. GeorKe S., Tr.von.

.lensen. Air. and Airs. II. Jk, Duke Station,
Dnriiani.

.lensen. Airs. O. E., Chapel Hill.

.lobnson. Aliss .lanet, 2610 A'anderbilt Ave.,
KaleiKln

.lobnson. Air. and Airs. Eatta, Drawer 5!)1,
Statesville.

.lobnson, Alaynard S., Eake Alattamuskeet
RefuKe, Xew Holland.

.lobnson. Dr. Al.veh.vle AA'., Dept. Zoolog.v,
Duke Fniversity, Durham.

.lobnson. Airs. Alych.vle AA’.. De|)t. ZooIor.v,
Duke Fniversity, Durham.

.Jolinston, Aliss Ann Fayssoux, Barium
SpriiiBs.

.lones, .Foe, 51!) Hooper Eane. Chapel Hill,
.lones, T. C., Box 39. Elizabeth City.

.lones. Airs. AA'. H.. .Siler Cit.v.

.lones. Airs. AA'alter, 104 Fairelotli .Avenue,
RaleiBli.

Kellenberser, Airs. C. 1).. 1020 AA’. Alarket
•St.. Greenslxiro.

Kemp. AA’. P., Goldsboro.

Kendall. Airs. IE AA’., 18.50 X. Elm Street,
Greensboro.

Ketner, Airs, .lames T., Route 5. AA’ood-
a<‘res, .Salisbur.v.

Kimberl.v. Aliss Alar.v, 221 Kimberl.v .Ave.,
•Asheville.

Kinee.v, Airs. 11. F., 301 Eastover Road,
Charlotte.

Kinsr, Robert R., .Ir.. Boone.

Kistler. .lames, X. C. Dept. Con. & Dev.,
RaleiKk.

Knox, Aliss Berlha, 303 AA . Bank Street,
Salisbury.

Knox. Airs. AA’. B., 112 AA’. Sharpe Street.
StaG'sville.

Knerzi. Rieliard G., I.oiib Ba.v, Box 66,
Alyrile Beach, ,S. C.

KuBler. Mrs. I'rank ('., AA’asbiiiBton.
Easble.v, Airs. AA’. IE, Box 7188, .Asb<‘ville.
Eatbam, Airs. .1. E., Hood Place, Greensboro.
Eaw, .A. AE. Es(|.. Tr.von.

Eazenb.v, Aliss Eanra. 322 AA’. Bell Streel,
Slalesville.

Eeavens, Miss Dealia. .Altamoiit.

Eeonard, Bill.v, 322 Aloeksville Ave., Salis-
bury.

Eeonard, Bishop, Box 463, Salisbur.v.

I.ewis, Air. and Airs. .1. G., 604 Davie Ave.,
•States ville.

Eewis, K. P., Durham.

I.inn. Aliss Alar.v .Anne, 121 South Ellis St.,
Salisbu r.v.

Einn. Stable, .Ir., 121 South Ellis Street,
•Salisbur.v.

Eippels. .lohn AA’., 202 Fairmont Terrace,
Salislnir.v.

I.ittle Gate Garden Club, Aliss Inez B.
.Adamsom, 115 X. Park Drive, (ireens-
boro.

Little. Airs. George AA’., Route 1, Eilesville.

Little, Airs. .1. C., 1210 Hillsboro St., Ra-
leigh.

Long, Bill, Country Club Road, AA’inston-
•Salem.

Long, AA’. E., .Ir., Carr St.. Raleigli.

Longshore, ,1. IE, .-Arden.

Eowder, Aliss Alary, 719 Roanoke .Ave.,
Roanoke Rapids.

Lowe. Don B., Box 173, Parkersburg, AA’.
Aa.

Ij.von, Airs. E. II., 911 Boulevard. States-
ville.

E.vou, Dr. ,S. C.. Davidson.

Alalfitt. Airs. C. 1).. 219 South Fifth St.,
AA’ilmington.

■Ala.iiire, AA’allaee. Dept, of Zoolog.v, State
I'ollege Station. Raleigh.

Alarsh, Airs. .Arthur, 301 Edgedale Drive,
High Point.

Alartin, Dan., 1821 St. Alar.v’s St., Raleigh.

Alartin, Aliss Flossie. R. ,1. Re.vnolds High
•School, AA’inston- Salem.

Alartin. Dr. AA . T., 1821 St. Alary’s Street.
Raleigh.

Alarvin, Airs. AA’. R.. 305 S. Third Street,
AA’ilmington.

Alatheson, Airs. ,1. .A., Alitchell College,

Statesville.

Alattox, ,1. P., Box 2.50, Salisbury.

AIc.'Allister, Eacy E., Pilot Insurance Co.,
Greensboro.

AlcCoy, Air. and Airs. O. .1.. 437 AA’alnut St.,
Statesville.

AIcKay, Dr. Rot)ert AA’., 1444 Eastover

Road, Charlotte.

AIcT.aughlin, .John R., 249 Race St.. States-
ville.

AIcEean. Airs. Graham AA’., T.umberton.

Alcl.ean, Airs. Hubert (>., Route 2, Box 5,
Raeford.

AlcXair. ,las. I... Esq.. Eaurinburg.

AlcXairy, Airs. Evel.vn, Route 2, Box 660,
Greensboro.

Aleares, Airs, (’.race E., Clarkton.

Aleriwether, Shannon, Tr.von.

Aletcalf, Dr. Z. P., State College Station,
Raleigh.

Aliddlesworth, Airs. Chester, 601 South AIul-
berr.v .St., Statesville.

Aliller, Airs. Beulah F., Sedgelleld Inn.,
(.reensboro.

Alills. I.onnie, 410 AA’est End .Ave., States-
ville.

Alontgomer.v, Aliss Alaggie, Elm St., States-
ville.

Alontgomery, Airs. AA’ade, 120 Hermitage
Road, Charlotte.

Aloore, Aliss Sarah Gra<'e, 112 Xorth FDIm
•St., .Stalesville.

Alorgan, Thomas .A., Sperr.v Corporation, 30
Rockefeller Plaza. Xew A’ork, X. A’.

Alorrison, ,lohn AE. Box 127, Beaufort.

Alorrow. Airs. .A. R., Xorth Host St., States-
ville.

Alurmy, Rev. ,1. ,1., 6 AA’hite SI., I.exington,
A’a.

Alurray, .Airs. AA’. ,A.. Alebane.

Alvers, Aliss Helen, Lenoir.

•Myers, Airs. Richard .A., 2137 RadcIilT .Ave.,
Charhitte.

r H E C H A 1

31

Noell, Mrs. A. I’., I 19 \V. Smith St., (ireens-
l»<)ro.

Norkt't, >Iiss l.il.v, Davis Ilospitai, States-
viiie.

Nortlif.v, >lrs. .1. II ., 1355 ({ueens Road

West. Charlotte.

Oates. .Mrs. .lolin .\., 4(K! St. .James Sciuare,
l''a.vetteville.

01)erholser, Dr. II. C.. 3H05 18th St., N. W.,
WashinKton, 1). C.

Odum, Dr. Ku«:eiie, Dejit. Zoology, liiiver-
sit.v of (ieorffia, .\tiiens, (ia.

Odum, Thomas. Chapel Hill.

Oestreielier, Irvin, 328 South Fulton Street,
Salishur.v.

Oettinjrer, .Mrs. E. M.. 1111 \ irsinia Street,
Greensboro.

Olmstead, Mrs. K. .\., Sanford.

Orr, .Mark Taylor, IJox 5()8, Charlotte.

I’atte. Mrs. 1’. 11.. Bo.v 5051, Biltmore.

Parker, 51iss .Jessie, E. 391 Bo.vlan .\pts.,
KalelKh.

Parrish, Miss Ellie, Oxford OrphanaKe, Ox-
ford.

Parrish, 51rs. l*'red 51., 424 Sprinffdale .\ve.,
Winston-Salem.

Parsons. 51 rs. Eillian B., 407 Eareh .\ve.,
Boffota. N. .1.

Partin. .1. 5V.. .Jr., Henderson.

Patterson. 5lrs. Georgre K., Box 49, 55'eaver-
ville.

Pear.sall, Tommy, Box 1099, Roek.v 51onnt.

Pearse, Dr. S., Duke Fniversity, Durham.

Pearse, 5Irs. A. S., Hope I'alley, Route 3,
Durham.

Pearson, Dr. T. G., 22.57 Eoring Place,

Bronx, New 5ork, N. 5’.

Perrett, George, 424 Forest St., Greensboro.

Perry, 5Irs. II. Eeslie, Chestnut St., Hen-
derson.

Perry. ,J. G., County Game and Fish Pro-
tector, Edenton.

Perry, 5Irs. Nelson R., Biltmore Forest
Country Club, .Asheville.

Pickell. 5Iiss Virginia, 221 W. Park Drive,
Raleigh.

Pike. 5Irs. Henr.v, Siler Cit.v.

Pittman, 5Iiss Patt.v, State 5Iuseum, Ra-
leigli.

Poe, W. C., Route 2, -V.vcock Scliool, Hen-
derson.

Pomero.v, 5Irs. N. .A., 96 Hillside .Ave., tVater-
bury. Conn.

Pope, Miss .Mice. V. AV. C. .A., (Jreensboro.

Potter, B. 51., New Bern.

Potter. 5Irs. G. C., 211 5Ialvern Rond, Cbar-
lotte.

Pratt. Dr. .Joseph Jlyde. Chapel Hill.

Pressl.v, 5Irs. .1. I,., Route 3, Statesville.

I’reston. 5Irs. C. E., Chapel Hill.

Price, Reginald J.., 249 Ridgewood .Avenue,
I'harlotte.

Proctor, R. S., 51ocksville.

Pruitt, 5Irs. .1. S., J.ong Shoals Rd., Skyland.

tjua.v, T. E., Zoology Dept., State College,
Raleigh.

<{uinn, Grover C., .Jr., Buxton.

Rahb, ,J. C., Box 39, Elizabeth City.

Raine.v, 5Iiss .\nn, 609 Holl.v Ave., AVins-
ton-Salem.

Ramse.v, Airs. Calhoun, 609 Davie Avenue,
Statesville.

Randolph, Miss Alary. Route 2. Charlotte.

Rankin. Claude, .Jr., Bradford -Ave., J^ay-
etteville.

Ray. Airs. Fred. Black Bear Jnn. Baldwin.

Ra.vnor, .J. AA'.. .\hoskie.

Reed, Airs. .A. 1519 Alorris Ave., Nor-

folk, Va.

Reid. A. C., .Ir.. AA'ake Forest.

Reitzel, Airs. P. .J.. Siler Cit.v.

Rhoades, Aerne, 78 Patton .Ave., .Asheville.

Richardson, .A. I., 1800 N. Market St., Dal-
las. Texas.

Ricks, Airs. David .A., Hanes.

Robbins, Al. R., Rocky Mount.

Roberts, Coleman AA'., 437 S. Tr.von Street,
Charlotte.

Robertson, Mrs. Edna 'I'., AA’Cst .lell'erson.

Robinson, Airs. Cecil, Box 1195, Southern
Pines.

Robinson, Airs. ,1. .\., Durham City Schools,
Durha m.

Rogers, Mrs. .1. B., 110 N. Race .St., States-
ville.

Rood, Airs. 11. AA’., Cary.

Rose. Airs. G. E., Route 4, Henderson.

Ross, Aliss Blanche, Alorganton.

Rosser, Aliss Rosalie, Presbyterian Hospital,
Charlotte.

Rowell, .1. <)., State College Station, Ra-
leigh.

Ro.val. Dr. Ben F.. Aloreliead Cit.v.

Salle.v, Air. and Airs. .A. ,1., 245 E. Broad
.St., .Statesville.

.Sampson, !<’. D., 1629 South Blvd., Char-
lotte.

Sanborn, Airs. Nellie F., Southern Pines.

Sandifer, Aliss Kitt.v, 2126 Dil worth Road,
East, Charlotte.

Schell, Airs. I,. I,., Oakland Heights, States-
ville.

Schiffman, Aliss Etta, 319 AA’. AA'ashington
St., Greensboro.

Sellers, Charles, .Jr., 611 Clement .Ave.,

Charlotte.

Settan, Airs. Edith I,., 810 Rankin St..
Greensboro.

.Sbamburger, Aliss .Anne, 517 Highland -Ave.,
Greensboro.

Sharp, Ala.jor Bernard. Tryon.

Sharpe, .Jule, Route 4, Greensboro.

.Siiell. Airs. A'. AI., Arden.

.Shepherd, G. F., U. N. C. l.ibrary. Chapel
Hill.

Shepherd Alemorial Eibrary, Greenville.

Sheppard. Aliss Susan, Sk.vland.

Sherrill, Airs. Herbert, Brookdale, States-
X'ille.

Sidbiiry, Airs. .J. Burcn, AA’ilmington.

.Simmons, Airs. N. I.., Chapel Hill.

.Simpson, ,J. T., .Americus, (ieorgia.

Simpson, Airs. Roxie C., .State Aluseum, Ra-
leigh.

Skaale, Airs. .A. ,T., 902 Brooks .Ave., Ra-
leigh.

Skaale. Aliss Betty .Ann, 902 Brooks .Ave.,
Raleigh.

Slaton. Aliss Clara Barton. (Jiieens College,
Charlotte.

Sloan. Airs. .Alex 'F., 1916 Georgia Ave.,
AA’ i n st on - |8a I em .

Smith, Burton H.. 702 N. Tryon .St., Char-
lotte.

Smith, Dr. J’rank. Radcliff .Ave., Charlotte.

Smith. Dr. Aliiiiiie .1., Box 34, Salem Sta-
tion. AA’inston-Salem.

.Spell. Airs. R. P.. Clinton Garden Club,
Clinton.

Springs, Eli B.. Esq.. Route 1. Alatthews.

SroiK'e. B. I.., Brookdale, Statesxille.

.Statesville Public l.ibrary, Statesville.

l.ibrary. Statesville High School. Statesville.

Steele, Airs. Clarence AI., 625 Alulberry St..
.Statesville.

.Steele, Airs. ,1. C., Sr., 222 Brevard Street,
Statesville.

Stimson, Maurice, 332 AA'. Bell St., States-
ville.

Stitt, Airs. Katherine. .Statesville.

Stout, Mrs. I<7lton. Siler Cit.v.

Stradtman, Aliss Pauline, Alitchell College,
Statesville.

Strong, Aliss Dais.v, 109 .Adams St., Greens-
boro.

Stubbins, Rev. R. C., 808 Brown St., tireens-
boro.

Stupka, .Arthur, tlatlinburg, Tenn.

32

THE CHAT

Sullivan, C'. S., Dept. Zoology, State Col-
lege, Raleigh.

Sutlierland. >Irs. I.. T.. 23 Conneeticut Ave-
nue. Southern Dines.

Swan, Mrs. .Ada B., Southern Pines.

Swann, B. B., Route 1, Statesville.

Swart, Airs. Cliarles AI., 10 Scott -Apart-
ments. tireenshoro.

Swope. Airs. H. B., Sk.vland.

Tabor, Aliss Alargaret, 02.5 Walnut Street,
Statesville.

Taylor, Airs. Isaac AI., Alorganton.

Taylor, Miss Juanita, Box 08. Roanoke
Rapi<ls.

Ta.vlor. Aliss Tiz/.ie, Townesville.

Taylor, Alark II., Zoology Dept.. State C(d-
lege, Raleigh.

Taylor, Dr. Wesley. .Justainere Parin, Greens-
boro.

Tem|)lcton, Giles, 116 Bost St., Statesville.

Thomas, Mrs. AV. A., 119 East Sharpe St.,
Statesville.

Tiddy, Mrs. Prank, 59 Annandale .Avenue,
.Asheville.

Toms, Mrs. C. W., .Jr., Venable Tobacco
Co., Durham.

Turiiage. Miss Hannah, 1000 X. Queen St.,
Kinston.

Tuten, Mrs. G. AI., 501 Walnut St.. States-
ville.

Tyner, Airs. X. 1)., 1802 Rollins Road,

Greensboro.

Pnderwood. Airs. AI. K., Belliaven.

I r(iuhart, Aliss Kate, AVoodville.

l'r<(uhart, R. .A., I.ewiston.

A anderbilt, Aliss Alargaret, .Altamont.

Aaugiin. Airs. R. C., 743 Oaklawn Avenue,
AA inston-Salem.

A'ernon. Dr. .lames AA'., Alorganton.

AA'adswortli. Airs. George I’., 228 Cottage
IMace, Charh)tte.

AA'alker, Henry A.. Perry Park, Kinston.

AAalker, ,S. .A., Alanteo.

AA’all, Airs. Alargaret Y., 6 Springdale Court,
Greensboro.

AA'arren. Airs. C. S., I.enolr.

AA'atts, Aliss Carrie Alae, 117 X. Race .St.,
Statesville.

AA’atts, Airs. E. B., 117 X. Race St., States-
ville.

AA'ebb. Chas. .A., Esq., Citizen-Times Bldg.,
.Asheville.

AA elfling, Airs. AA'eldon, Duke University,
Durliam.

AA'estinoreland. Aliss .Ann, 1103 Evergreen
.Ave., Goldsboro.

AA'hitehead, Burgess, Eewiston.

AA'hitehead, L. C., State College Station,
Raleigh.

AA'ilkinson, Airs. Thomas P’., Cary.

AA'illiams, Airs. C. B., Sherwood P'orest,
Pa.vettevllle.

AA'illiams. .Airs. Eugenia B., Bylield, Alid-
land Road, Pinehurst.

AA’illiams, P’rank, State C<dlege Station, Box
4169, Raleigh.

AA’ilmerding, Col. AA'. E., Skyland.

AA'ilson, Airs. Eddie AA'., Cary.

AA'ilson, Airs, II. E., Route 3, Raleigh.

AA’ilson, T. E.. Box 5001, Stale C()llege Sta-
tion, Raleigh.

AA'inkler, E. AV., 509 Daughtridge St., Ra-
leigh.

Wintyen, Aliss Alary K., Soutliern Pines.

AA’itherington. 2nd Ut. R. 11., 8th Infantry,
Port Henning, Ga.

AA’oodson, Xelson. Salisbury.

Yates, P^red, Chadbourn.

A’ates, Airs. .1. I.., 204 Goodwood Garden,
Baltimore, Aid.

Yoder, Mrs. Hilda, 519 AA'. AA’ashington,
Greensboro.

Young, p;. O., Jr., p'arm T.ife S<'hool, Alid-
dleburg.

Young, R. C., Zel> A’aiice School, Kittrell.

Zachery, Aliss Elizabeth, Salem .Academy,
AA' i n st on - Sal cm .

aieaibp:rs, .address post

Bicknell, Airs. Jessie A’. Erwin, Miss Xan.

AA'eaver, C. K.

TOT.AE AIEAIBP7RSHIP 463

(Announcements

ANNUAL MEETING Statesville Community House 2:00
p.m., Friday, May 2, 1941. Send titles of papers to Miss
Grace Anderson, Statesville; and reservations for the ban-
quet ($1.00) to the Vance Hotel, Statesville. Field trip,
6:30 a.m., Saturday, May 3rd.

INDEX TO THE CHAT suitable for binding with your
mimeograph copies may be had from the Editor for l^c
stamp to cover mailing.

GET A NEW MEMBER before the annual meeting. Dr.
Shaftesbury, chairman of the membership committee, sug-
gests that you secure the dues and send in the names of new
members to Dr. C. H. Bostian, State College Station,
Raleigh.

VIRGINIA SOCIETY OF ORNITHOLOGY invites
members of the North Carolina Bird Club to their eleventh
annual meeting at Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Va., at 1 :30
p.m., Friday, May 9, 1941, and to their annual banquet at
6:30 p.m., and the field trip next day.

GEORGIA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY meets in
Atlanta, April 19, 1941. For information, write Wm. W.
Griffin, 135 Peachtreeway, Atlanta, Georgia.

NO MORE JANUARY CHATS as the rapid increase of
membership has exhausted our supply. If you have finished
with your copy and are willing to pass it on to some new
member, simply write the name and address of the Editor
on the back, put on a Ij^c stamp and drop it in the mail.

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA

By T. GILBERT PEARSON, C S. BRIMLEY
H. H. BRIMLEY

ISTew and revised edition to be issued soon. Twenty-
four full page color pictures, 300 black and white
illustrations, over 400 pages of text giving accurate
and up-to-date information on 378 forms of bird life
recorded from the State,

Prepublication orders taken at $2.25 per copy for a
limited time. Send no money, but a card saying you
will take one or more copies.

The advance subscriptions already secured are credited

as follows:

Asheville 8

Chapel Hill 20

Charlotte 26

Davidson 7

Durham 9

Greensboro 38

Henderson 30

Kinston 14

Raleigh 216

Rocky Mount 10

Rutherford ton 30

Statesville 67

Wilmington 20

Winston-Salem 6

Other localities 153

Out of State 46

Total 700

NORTH CAROLINA STATE MUSEUM

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

VOL V.

MAY, 1941

No. 3

PUBLISHED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
At State College Station
Raleigh, N. C,

The Chat

Bulletin of the North Carolina Bird Club

John Grey, Jr., Editor Thomas L. Quay, Associate Editor

State College Station, Raleigh, N. C.

Application for entry as second-class matter is pending.

Published five times a year on the fifteenth of January, March, May, September, and
November as the official organ of the North Carolina Bird Club. Articles for publication
should reach the Editor by the first of the month in which the issue is published. Notifi-
cation of change of address or of lost copies should also be sent to the Editor.

Price of the bulletin, $0.60 per annum, included in all memberships.

VoL. 5

MAY, 1941

No. 3

CONTENTS

PAGE

The Statesville Meeting 33

The North Carolina Bird Club, 1940-1941 38

Regarding The New “Birds of North Carolina” 40

Aids To Amateurs 41

In The Life Of a Bird 43

North Carolina Bird Banders 45

Some Statistics 45

Glossy Ibis Nests Near Southport 47

New Members 48

THE NORTH CAROLINA RTRD CLUB

Organized March 6, 1937, for the study and protection of our birds. Memlier-
.ship is oi>en to those interested in this work, and is divided into four elas.ses : ,
Memliers, who pay dues of $1.00 per year; Sustaining Members, dues of $0.00^
a year ; Contributing Members, dues of $25.00 a year ; IJfe Members, one lump
sum of $100.00. Nominations and applications for membership should be .sent
to the Treasurer. Present officers:

President: Dr. A. I). Shafte.sbury, W. C. U, N. C. ; First Vice-President: Miss
Grace Anderson, Statesville: Second Vice-President: Mrs. D. W. Grinnell.
Arden: Third Vice-President: Dr. Ren F. Royal. Morehead (Mty: Secretary:
Mrs. N. D. Tyner, Greeii.sboro ; Treasurer: Dr. C. II. Rostian. Raleigli: Editor:
Rev. John Gn'y. Jr.. State College Station. Raleigh.

The Statesville Meeting

II. II. IlKlMl.EY

That was a really great meeting in every way and those Statesville bird
lovers gave us the glad hand in a manner that will be long remembered.
There were so many highlights to the gathering that it is difficult to do
justice to all of them in a restricted paper that attempts to give to those
unfortunates not able to attend a general idea of what we saw, heard and
experienced.

Starting at two o’clock p.m. on Friday, May 2, the meeting was in
almost continuous session up to ten that night, though this period covered
the reception at the Anderson home and the time necessary for the absorp-
tion of physical nourishment at the evening banquet, which, by the way,
was quite a meal.

Our new officers for the coming year are as follows: President, Dr.
Archie D. Shaftesbury, of the Biology Department of the Woman’s Col-
lege, U. N. C., Greensboro; First Vice-President, Miss Grace Anderson,

Statesville; Second Vice-President,
Mrs. D. W. Grinnell, Arden; Third
Vice-President, Dr. Ben F. Royal,
Morehead City; Secretary, Mrs. N.
D. Tyner, Greensboro; Treasurer,
Dr. C. H. Bostian, Raleigh. The
Reverend John H. Grey, Jr., was re-
elected as Editor of The Chat and
M iss Claudia Hunter, of Henderson,
and VI rs. Edwin O. Clarkson, of
Charlotte, were elected to member-
ship on the executive committee.

There being no nominations from
the floor, the election of the names as
presented by C. S. Brimley, for the
nominating committee, was made by a
motion for the adoption of the Com-
mittee’s report.

The Club now has an enrollment
of 531 members spread over 57 coun-
ties in the State, witli 26 local units.
The Statesville Audubon Club has the
largest membership, totaling 71. I am by no means a nut on the subject of
statistics, but I feel that the foregoing figures may prove a stimulus for
further effort.

There were so many interesting features on the program that it is diffi-
cult to mention any as being of outstanding merit where the character of
all was so good. From the short but most friendly welcome by Mayor

DR. A. D. SHAFTESBCRY

33

34

THE CHAT

J. WAsle}' Jones, of Statesville, to tlie curfew bell that night, there was
mighty little waste time available for extra-limited activities. It was a
Bird Meeting all right, permeated by an “At Home” atmosphere.

1 am not going to attempt to give the program in detail, but a few
remarks on various features thereof should prove of interest.

The elaborate annual report of our retiring president. Miss Claudia
Hunter, of Henderson, full}' described the activities and growth of the
Club for the past twelve months. Miss Hunter was given a rousing vote
of thanks for the able manner in which she has handled a very difficult
line of effort during her incumbency and we all know with what energy
and tirelessness she has carried the organization to new heights. A synopsis
of the report appears in a separate article in this issue.

Reports from bird clubs of the State were presented at the opening busi-
ness session at the Community House on Friday afternoon. Outstanding
among these were reports of the Statesville Audubon Club and Sanctuary,
given by Miss Grace Anderson; the Greensboro Piedmont Club; the
Raleigh Bird Club; the Henderson Bird Club and Sanctuary; the Durham
Bird Club; the Farmville Boys’ Audubon Club and Sanctuary; the Hickory-
Bird Club ; the Boone Audubon Club.

The resolutions committee’s report had as a principal item a recom-
mendation that the North Carolina Bird Club become affiliated with the
National Audubon Society in order to receive all possible aid in the pro-
tection of birds. This recommendation was unanimously adopted. Other
recommendations of the committee included a vote of thanks to the States-
ville Audubon Club and the city of Statesville for their graceful hospitality,
and one of appreciation to the members of the retiring executive board of
the State organization for their diligence and perseverance. All adopted.

Feading the program at the Community House was a very interesting
description of experiences in bird-banding by Mrs. O. F. Jensen, of Chapel
Hill, a licensed bird-bander. Various types of the traps she used at her
feeding station were shown. The traps were operated from her living
room. Just press the button — and there is your bird all ready for the
banding operation. Mrs. Jensen banded 86 Purple Finches this spring
and could have banded many more had not her supply of bands of the
proper size become exhausted. She also told of her Junior Audubon Club
in Chapel Hill.

M rs. Charlotte Hilton Green, of Raleigh, told of the advantages (and
also of the reverse) of the Audubon Nature Camp on the Maine Coast.
Ideal for the dyed-in-the-wool bird student, said Mrs. Green, but no place
for rest or recreation. Which reminds me of the man just back from a
trip for a change and a rest, who stated that “The waiters got the change
and the landlord got the rest!” From what 1 have read of the Maine
Camp, 1 can fully endorse the statements made by Mrs. Green.

'I'he librarian of the Henderson Public Library, Mrs. H. Leslie Perry,
talked on “What a Public Library can Do to Create Interest in Birds and

THE C H A 1'

35

Their Protection.” Mrs. Perry showed how interest in birds and their
habits had been aroused among both children and adults through the efforts
of the Library, both by colored illustrations and by making the bird hooks
more readily accessible.

At the banquet Friday night Air. W. H. Chance, of the Winston-Salem
Bird Club, announced that the 1,100-acre Reynolds estate had been made
a bird sanctuary. This statement met, of course, with unqualihed approval,
and a further statement was made by Mr. J. C. Darsie, of the State De-
partment of Conservation and Development, that provided for a five-year
plan for developing the sanctuary.

Mr. IVlaurice Stimson, of the Statesville Club, had as his subject, “Inter-
esting Facts About Well-known Birds,” confining his talk mainly to the
Chimney Swift.

The afternoon session was concluded by Dr. C. H. Bostian showing a
series of lantern slides of North Carolina Birds that had been presented to
the North Carolina Academy of Science by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin O. Clark-
son, of Charlotte. The collection contains 63 beautifully colored slides and
is available for showing at schools and other public gatherings. Informa-
tion regarding this series may be obtained from the North Carolina Acad-
emy of Science in Durham.

On the first floor of the Community House w^as an e.xhibit of bird boxes
arranged under the direction of Mrs. H. G. Sherrill, of the Statesville
Club, and a very interesting exhibit of wild flowers arranged by Miss
Sarah Nooe, of the faculty of Queen’s College, Charlotte, who is a member
of the local bird club.

On the upper floor was quite a large exhibit of birds’ nests, including
the first nest of the Prairie Horned Lark ever found in the State, taken
near Statesville last year. The State Museum, at Raleigh, made a small
exhibit of mounted specimens that called attention to a few species seldom
seen by bird observers, particularly in the Piedmont section of the State.
This included a very large Loon in full spring plumage, a Least Bittern,
a baby Turkey Vulture in the downy stage of plumage and a pair of
Prairie Horned Larks mounted in conjunction with the nest and three eggs
of the parent birds, these being the first eggs of the Prairie Horned Lark
ever recorded from North Carolina, this nest and eggs having been dis-
covered by Dr. Francis H. Craighill, of Rocky Mount, on April 19, 1941,
at the local airport.

The crowd then turned its attention to the beautiful sanctuary-garden
of Miss Grace Anderson and was hospitably received by Aliss Anderson,
her mother, Mrs. Thomas E. Anderson, and her sister. Miss Ina Anderson,
together with several members of the local Audubon Club. Bird boxes,
feeding places, bathing facilities, swings, nesting material racks, humming-
bird feeders — and what would you? A birds’ drugstore and ready-to-wear
shop seemed to be about the only features not provided for a bird’s needs
and luxuries. And the garden was so lovely. An enormous and beauti-

36

THE CHAT

fully proportioned Willow Oak dominated one end and added a touch of
dignity to the surroundings, which was in no way lessened by the fact that
refreshments were served beneath its widespreading branches. Everyone
was made to feel so thoroughly at home and all seemed to be having such
a good time. To avoid exposing an abysmal ignorance in matters pertain-
ing to bowers the writer refrains from saying anything in detail about the
species and varieties seen and admired, except that on leaving he had a
small bunch of English daisies pinned on the lapel of his coat.

Dr. Joseph Hyde Pratt, of Chapel Hill, presided at the banquet and the
subsequent proceedings of the evening in his usual easy but effective manner.
That Pratt man knows how to preside. During the proceedings he sub-
mitted some interesting matter relating to the first issues of the book, Birds
of North Carolina, explaining the destruction by fire of tbe whole of the
first issue in 1913, which was followed by the edition of 1918 that happily
escaped destruction.

d'he status of the proposed new revised edition was presented by Mr.
Harry T. Davis, Director of the State Museum, who submitted a synopsis
of the trials and tribulations that had to be overcome before its publication
became assured, which now seems to be an accomplished fact. Exactly
when it will be ready for distribution cannot yet be stated, but the pre-
publication promises of prospective purchasers have already reached a most
gratifying figure, the total of such as presented by Mr. Davis being 904,
with more coming in by every mail. So it would appear that those desiring
copies at the pre-publication price had better be getting busy if they wish
to come in under the less expensive plan of purchase.

The report of the Committee on Records was presented by Dr. C. S.
Brimley, of Raleigh; on Field Trips, b}" Dr. Elmer Brown, of Davidson;
Membership, by Dr. A. D. Shaftesbury, of the Woman’s College, Greens-
boro; Thk Chat’s Proposed Poll for a State Bird, by Mr. T. L. Quay,
of Raleigh. Dr. Brown called attention to the proposed trip to Orton
Plantation, on May 24, urging all members to take the trip. Sub-committee
reports on membership were given by Mr. E. W. Winkler, of State Col-
lege, and Miss Grace Anderson. Dr. Pratt also called attention to the
movement, sponsored by the North Carolina Society for the Preservation
of Antiquities, to restore the home of the late Governor Aycock, and re-
quested the North Carolina Bird Club’s interest in the movement by reason
of Governor Aycock’s interest in the conservation of bird life.

Dr. Ben F. Royal, of Morehead City, presented an interesting paper
on the old-time campaigns against the gulls and terns that came mighty
close to exterminating the Least 'Pern. Following this, he made a plea
for the protection of tlie Iieron and egret colony that has for several years
been situated among the thick cedars of an island between Morehead City
and Beaufort. Some local people seem to like egret squabs for food down
there; but once, on Cape Hatteras, tbe writer of this was informed that
“one ole fish duck will make 9 gallons of soup,’’ and since then he has never
cared for any fish-eating bird as a preferred article of diet.

'r HE C H A

37

Dr. Francis H. Craighill offered the invocation at the hanquet and a
gracious and cordial welcome was given by Miss Grace Anderson, to which
a reply was made by Mrs. Alargaret Wall, of the Greensboro Club. Vari-
ous prizes were presented to the fortunate holders of the correct numbers,
the first prize being a gift copy of the forthcoming new edition of the Birds
of North Carolina.

The high point of the meeting was reached at the evening session, when
some three hundred people crowded into the Vance Hotel ballroom to hear
]\Ir. Arthur Stupka, Park Naturalist of the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, who gave an e.xceedingly interesting and instructive lecture
on the Smokies. Mr. Stupka showed a series of slides, most of them in
color, illustrating the rich plant and animal life of the park. A few words
on each slide left us desiring to know more about this great recreational
area. Especially interesting to the ecologists was the discussion of the
different birds to be found in each plant community, from the low valleys
to the top of Clingman’s Dome.

Mr. Stupka was introduced by Mr. John R. McLaughlin, whose father,
R. B. McLaughlin, was one of the outstanding ornithologists of the State
a generation ago, and well known to this writer.

It would seem, after about 8 hours of more or less continuous meetings,
that when the last one closed about 10 p.m., everybody would be ready to
hit the hay! But bird folks love to talk and when curfew finally rang and
the last chatterer pla3'ed out, the midnight hour was close at hand.

One note in a sadder strain. Neither the Edwin Clarksons, of Charlotte,
nor John Grey, of Raleigh, were able to attend, the former by reason of
IVI rs. Clarkson’s illness and the latter because Dr. Grey has not yet fully
recovered from a recent accident. Our sympathies to all of them.

The writer did not participate in the field trip on the following morning,
but he has been given to understand that there were about forty-five enthusi-
asts that did. It was windy and cold, however, and no new records were
made on number of species observed. But under the general leadership of
Mr. Maurice Stimson, of the Statesville Club, about 70 species of birds
were identified on the McLaughlin farm. Two nests of Louisiana Water-
thrush, one of Hooded Warbler and one of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher were
found, and the writer takes it for granted that a good time was had by all,
nothing to the contrary having come to his knowledge.

The party breakfasted at the Grace Hotel at 10:30, and I’m willing to
bet that those boys and gals kept the waiters busy. They had been out in
an appetite-producing wind, from by-point of view 1

This late in the day the writer has discovered that he failed to mention
the lovely table decorations at the banquet. He does not remember having
ever seen anything to surpass them on any similar occasion, (^n motion of
M rs. Jensen, the organization extended a note of appreciation to Mrs.
Pegram A. Bryant and the members of her flower committee from the
Statesville Club, Mrs. Earl Davis also contributing. May Day was the

38

THE CHAT

motif, with miniature Maypoles arranged along all four of the banquet
tables with the proper streamers attached — but words fail. No mere male
hand can do justice to the beautiful effect produced.

Following is the list of birds seen on the Saturday morning held trip :
Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Pigeon Hawk, Bob-white, Mourning
Dove, \ ellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Humming-
bird, Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Crested Fly-
catcher, Phoebe, Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Peewee, Rough-winged Swal-
low, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Blue Jay, Crow, Carolina Chickadee,
Tufted Titmouse, House ^Vren, Carolina Wren, Mockingbird, Catbird,
Brown Thrasber, Robin, Wood Thrusb, Bluebird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Rub3'-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Loggerhead Shrike, Starling,
White-e^'ed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Black and
AV^hite Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Parula Warbler, Yellow AVarbler,
Cape Alay Warbler, Alyrtle Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated
^Yarbler, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Oven-bird, Louisiana Water-
Thrush, Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-tbroat, Yellow-breasted Cbat, Hooded
Warbler, Wil son’s Warbler, Redstart, English Sparrow, Meadowlark,
Red-wing, Purple Grackle, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Cardinal
Indigo Bunting, Goldhnch, Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Grasshopper Spar-
row, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Song
Sparrow.

The North Carolina Bird Club, 1940-1941

Clat’dia IIcntkr

At the last annual meeting the president presented a Five-^Yar Plan,
which she had been requested to formulate, and in whicb ten objectives
were listed for tbe first year, the j'ear 1940-41. Of these, six have been
attained, as follows:

1. The three constitutional changes proposed have been made.

2. I'liE Chat has been enriched, enlarged, and has hecom.e a printed
journal.

3. State-wide and regional held trips have been conducted.

4. Garden and municipal sanctuaries have been encouraged.

5. Weekly syndicated articles have been released to between forty and
fifty State newspapers since December, one of tbe club’s members,
Mr. J. L. Horne, of Rocky Mount, encouraging tbe idea and con-
tributing the postage. These brief bird portraits, bearing tbe title
Carolina Bird-Lore , and tbe club’s signature have been written by a
dozen or more different members of tbe club and checked for accu-
racy hy Mr. H. H. or Dr. C. S. Brimley. (We pause at this time
to express to the press of the State the North Carolina Bird Cluh’s
sincere appreciation. The North Carolina Press has been more than
generous to this young organization.)

T H E C H A r

39

6. IVIonthly Check Lists, prepared by Dr. Elmer E. Brown and Dr.
Brimley, have been printed and supplied to members in order to
encourage the accumulation and systematic filing of accurate records
from all parts of the State. A Nest Record Card, a Migration
Record Card, a membership card, and a comprehensive leaflet cover-
ing the club’s activities and issued by the membership committee have
also been printed and are now in use.

Three of the ten objectives have been only partially attained.

First: Instead of the 1,000 members, we have to date 531. This, how-
ever, is an increase over last year of about 80 per cent and nearly 300 per
cent increase over a two-year period. Probably it should be said in this
connection that those who read the Five-Year Plan before it was presented
to the last year’s meeting and endorsed the membership goal of 5,000 in
five 3'ears did so because they know that a small club cannot crj^stallize the
interest that is to be found throughout the State in birds, and that this
State-wide influence is necessary to bring about the adequate protection of
birds which members of the club want and have a right to expect from their
State Club.

Secondly: The 1,000 advance orders for Birds of North Carolina which
we set as our goal, associated groups working along with us, have not all
been secured. We lack about 90 orders for this book, which Dr. Grey
persuaded the original authors to revise and rewrite, and arranged with a
State agency to publish.

Thirdly: No study has been made of the relationship between the State
Club and the local units, nor of the club’s relationship to other groups in-
terested in bird life. There has, however, been co-operation between the
club and other State organizations on several occasions :

1. The Garden Clubs of North Carolina gave us, on two occasions,
through its Bird Conservation Chairman, the assistance we sought.

2. We responded to the North Carolina Forestry Association’s request
for the names and addresses of our local club presidents and others.

3. We offered the Department of Conservation and Development,
through its Division of Game and Inland Fisheries, our support in
opposing county provided bounties on owls and hawks and in turn
asked the Division to investigate the wholesale destruction of owls
and hawks and their display on two or more of the highways of the
State.

4. We transmitted to the Department of Conservation and Development,
the U. S. Biological Survey, and the National Audubon Society data
submitted on two occasions by Dr. Ben F. Royal in regard to the
destruction of egrets on the Newport River island and secured their
promise to investigate. Since we have become by this afternoon’s vote
an affiliate of the Audubon Society, we have more right to expect aid
from this national agency for bird protection, and we shall probably
receive it.

40

THE CHAT

5. In February your Executive Board unanimously agreed to offer its
support to the National Audubon Society in its efforts to bring about
complete and permanent cessation of the feather traffic, and last week,
at the Executive Director’s request, sent a letter to Governor Lehman
of New York asking him to sign the bill then before him prohibiting
the feather traffic in New York State.

6. The North Carolina Academy of Science last October appealed to the
North Carolina Bird Club for $50 for a set of 50 bird slides to be
made available to high schools, and through our efforts a set of 63
slides of resident birds of the State was given to the Academy of
Science by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin O. Clarkson.

The one objective neither wholly nor partially realized is the employ-
ment of a held secretary, but since we have learned of the Florida Club and
National Audubon Society plan, we believe that an Educational Representa-
tive may be within our reach at the present time.

In addition to these ten objectives, an eleventh was suggested at the last
annual meeting by Mr. Harold S. Peters, Flyway Biologist, U. S. Biologi-
cal Survey. “Why don’t you band some birds in North Carolina that nest
in large colonies?’’ he asked, and added, “You might contribute much to
ornithology.’’ So hve North Carolina Bird Club leaders, under the gen-
eral direction of Dr. Grey and Mr. S. W. Walker of the Pea Island
Refuge, accepted the challenge, went to Pea Island in July and in two
days banded nearly 1,000 birds of ten species. North Carolina has, by the
way, 18 licensed bird-banding stations.

Regarding The New ’’Birds Of North Carolina”

T. Gilbert Pearsox

In reporting the progress of the rewritten edition of Birds of North
Carolina, first let us recall that the original volume was published in 1919.
4'he preparation of that book was virtually completed in 1912, but delays
by the printers, and an intervening fire, had held up the publication all that
time. During the twenty-nine years that have elapsed, much additional
data has become available about the birds of North Carolina. These the
authors have sought diligently to find, and have found it necessary to spend
a great deal of time in tracing down many of the records to find which
should he accepted and which should be deleted because of lack of convinc-
ing evidence.

A very large amount of correspondence has been necessary, and the
observations of 227 men and women are included in this new volume. In
the discussions of the hahits and activities of species, dates of their occur-
rence, etc., the new book will probably contain at least fifty per cent more
material than the original. The keys will be eliminated, which will save
some fifteen or twenty pages.

'r H E C H A 'F

41

Much time has been spent in going over the manuscript; not only adding
new material but also scrutinizing the English with great care, attempting
to avoid repetition and striving for clarity of expression. During the past
ten months we have changed or rewritten at least ninety per cent of the
pages, prepared in 1938 and 1939.

The question of illustrations has given us much concern. Personally, 1
earnestly hoped to find an angel who would supply $5,000 to pay for pro-
ducing twenty-five more original paintings, having these made into four-
color blocks, and take care of the expense for printing these, as a gift to the
Department of Agriculture for use in this book. But thus far I have
failed to discover such a celestial being. However, the chances are very
good that we will be able decidedly to enrich the book with some illustra-
tions from another source, and will be able to provide some new black-and-
white drawings which in a measure will take the place of a number of
blocks used in the old book wbich have been lost, or which will take the
place of some of the illustrations in the former volume which we do not
regard as possessing the proper standard of excellence.

While to some there has seemed to be a considerable delay in the bringing
out of this book, it really has been a big task. Perhaps I should mention
the fact that this is almost entirely a new book. There are very few
sentences or paragraphs in it that stand as they did in the old volume.

Today, I feel sure that we can promise that if this volume is published
in as good form as the first edition, there will be produced a book on the
birds of North Carolina that will be of great value and will stand as the
authoritative work on the birds of the State over a period of very many
years.

The editors hope to be able to place all material in the hands of the
Department of Agriculture for publication during the early days of July.

Aids To Amateurs

II. The Vireos

r. .S. Bunrr.EY

Vireos are small, plain-colored birds much like warblers in size and
general appearance, but with the bill distinctly hooked at the tip. They
are more deliberate in their actions than the latter and usually look upward
when seeking their insect food. All are good singers, the White-eye being
the poorest, and all sing more or less all day, even in the sultry heat of high

42

THE CHAT

KED-KYEI) VIREO

noon. All suspend their nests from the terminal fork of a limb, whence they
derive the local names of “Hangers” and “Swinging-birds.” Four species
are common in the State, while two others occur.

Red-eyed Vireo. The largest species, olive-green above, white below,
a dark line through the eye, a light stripe above it, the latter edged above
by the black border of the ashy crown. No wing-bars. Length about
6 inches. A slim, retiring bird, and one of the commonest birds in summer
in woodlands and shade trees. 4'he iris is red.

Yellow-throated Vireo. A slightly smaller but stouter bird. Brighter
olive-green, the top of head same color as back, a stripe from bill to and
around eye, the eye-ring not quite complete in front, the throat and whole
breast yellow, two white wing-bars. Common in woods and shade trees all
over the State in summer.

Blue-headed Vireo. Size and shape of preceding, top of head ashy,
under parts white, the sides washed with yellow, wing-bars and eye-ring
also white. A common bird in the mountains in summer (Mountain
Vireo), eastward mostly a transient, but breeds sparingly as far as Rocky
Mount.

WiHTE-EV'ED Vireo. A small species found in damp thickets, not in
woods. Much like the two preceding but smaller and slimmer with a
shorter tail. Bright olive-green above, white below, the sides washed with
yellowish. Eye-ring yellow, wing-bars yellowish. Years ago, this bird’s song
was interpreted as “Fish-ing-in-the-creek, put-your-cork-a-little-deep-er.”

'r HE C H A 'E

43

Two other species occur. The VVarblinjj Vireo, one of the commonest
species in the North, liere is only a rare summer bird in parts of the moun-
tains. It is practically a duplicate of the Red-eye, but is smaller and the
crown has no black edging. The other is the Philadelphia Vireo, the
smallest of all our vireos, which resembles the preceding but the under parts
are pale yellowish, but of this we have only one undated record from
Buncombe County.

In The Life Of A Bird

^IRS. Euwin O. Clarkson

By far the best way to study bird life is to take a sheltered seat and
become a part of the background. Nature reveals few secrets to those who
scurry through leaves and undergrowth in search of them. But for those
who quietly and patiently wait on her, she withdraws a portion of her veil
for their contemplation.

Never let a bird pass you with something in its mouth without at least
following him with your eyes to see where he goes. It may be nesting
material or food for young. In either case, you will find the nest. It not
only gives you an opportunity to watch the process, but also to protect the
nest from natural enemies.

Birds go through cycles of physiological development just as plants do,
and the average bird, if it is migratory, migrates, mates, builds its nest, la3"S
its eggs, incubates, rears its young, molts and migrates back to winter
quarters. Some birds rear more than one brood, especially in this climate,
and some have more than one molt, but they follow a definite series of
events.

Most of our birds are monogamous, but take a new mate for each nest-
ing season. Some birds, such as geese, hawks and owls, are mated for long
periods, perhaps for life. The Wild Turkey is polygamous and the Red-
winged Blackbirds are suspected, and the Cowbirds practice, a promis-
cuous poh^gamy.

During the nesting season high winds, heavy rains, prolonged wet or
cool periods and hailstorms threaten the young. Crows, jaj'S, grackles, cats,
squirrels, snakes and men are fatal to eggs and young. In the country the
opossum, mink, weasel and skunk are also enemies. We certainly don’t
advocate exterminating all of the natural enemies, including man, but
where birds are attracted and protected some method of control can be
worked out.

During courtship the male is usually the one who makes an exhibition of
himself and different species use different methods of attracting the female.
English Sparrows squabble and strut. Flickers are comical. Usually more
than one male courts at the same time and they bow and scrape before her
good-naturedly and talk constantly while doing so. It is a sort of “May
the best man win’’ proposition. Bluebirds, mild-mannered though they

44

THE CHAT

are, if there is more than one male, will fight until one or the other is
injured and leaves, but to the female they gracefully wave first one blue
wing and then the other and talk in the softest and most irresistably flatter-
ing way until she succumbs.

The general character of the nest, as to size, shape, materials, etc., is the
same for any one species, but the material varies according to what is avail-
able at each nesting site. However, if a bird is accustomed to building with
small sticks, he will not build with fine straw an3^where in his range, but
will gather whatever is nearest to the general character of nesting material
for the species. We found a Black and White Warbler nest, which is
usually lined with hair, lined with the finest copper filament out of tele-
phone cable. One could scarcely tell the difference between the fine copper
wire and real hair. The use of rags, paper, horse-hair, etc., illustrates the
influence of civilization on the birds’ selection of material.

Praecocial birds (birds whose babies run around as fluffy chicks as soon
as they are hatched), such as Bobwhites, usually build simply constructed
nests, while altricial birds (that is, birds who rear the helpless j'oung in
the nest), like Robins, build a more substantial structure in which to feed
and brood their young until they are able to leave the nest. Most authori-
ties agree that nest building is instinctive and not learned by watching other
birds.

Different birds lay different numbers of eggs, full sets of different species
varying from one to twenty eggs. Birds of the same family usually lay
approximately the same number of eggs. Praecocial birds, whose joung
require less care, often have large broods. However, some praecocial birds,
such as the Snipe and Plover, are too small to cover more than four of their
large eggs, while Bob-whites can easily cover a dozen or more of their small
ones. So the size of the bird in relation to size of its egg also has something
to do with the number of eggs in a set.

Usually the female incubates the eggs, but males of some species share in
the incubation and some cover the eggs during the female’s absence. Most
birds turn their eggs at intervals while sitting and carry the shell some
distance away after it has hatched before dropping it. Praecocial birds are

brooded only at nigbt and when tired they come and snuggle under the

mother, but altricial birds are brooded more or less constantly until their
feathers have grown out to protect them, and even then the parent usually
protects them from rain or direct sun. The j^oung of praecocial birds feed

themselves, but the young of altricial birds, such as Bluebirds and most

of our songbirds, are fed while in the nest and for several weeks after
leaving it. The joung are fed every few minutes throughout the most of
the day, and the food is placed far down the throat. If it does not imme-
diately swallow, the parent takes the food out of the throat and feeds it to
another bird or eats it herself.

When ready to leave the nest, some species can fly heautifully. Swallows
for instance. Bluebirds fly well also, but cannot direct their flight accu-

THE CHAT

45

rately and often miss the limb they intend to light upon and have to scram-
ble to catch the next one. Robins Hy poorly and spend the first few days
like little chicks on the ground. For a day or so before young birds are
ready to leave the nest, the parents are extremely nervous and do a great
deal of excited talking and fussing at the slightest intrusion on the privacy
of the nest. The day the babies leave they spend the entire day in a hysteri-
cal state, and you usually know a day or so ahead that the babies are about
ready to leave hy the state of the parents’ blood pressure.

North Carolina Bird Banders

II.\KKY T. Davis, Ualeigli

Some time back an appeal was made for the names of all holding banding
permits for North Carolina. Through the Eastern Bird Banding Associa-
tion, and the Distribution and Migration of Birds (former Biological
Survey), I have gathered the data below. Names marked with an asterisk
are members of the Eastern Bird Banding Association.

Ballard, Allen, Kinston; Beal, John L., 706 S. York St., Gastonia; Bell,
F. D., Camp Mondamin, Tuxedo; *Boggs, Miss Marion A., Waynes-
ville ; Bunn, Charles L, Garner; ^Chatham, Thurmond, 112 Stratford Rd.,
Winston-Salem; Coker, Coit McLean, Box 950, Chapel Hill; Connell,
James B., S. Garnett St., Henderson; *Davis, Harry T., N. C. State
Museum, Raleigh; Finster, Ethel B., Asheville Normal School, Asheville;
Green, Mrs. Charlotte Hilton, White Oak Rd., Raleigh; Hook, Alexander
B., P. O. Box 1426, High Point; Jamison, W. W., Jr., Hendersonville;
Johnson, Jack, Lexington; ^Johnson, Maynord S., New Holland; Kistler,
J. W., Polk Street, Raleigh; Knight, W. B., Jr., Garner; Lawrence,
Harley C., New Holland; Majure, Wallace J., Game and Inland Fish-
eries, Raleigh; Phillips, Rev. C. E., Dallas; Primrose, J. L., 1025 Vance
Street, Raleigh; Quinn, Grover C., Buxton; Ruff, Frederick J., c/o U. S.
Forest Service, Pisgah Forest; Shaftesbury, Archie D., 806 McGee Street,
Greensboro; Sullivan, Charles S., Game and Inland Fisheries, Raleigh;
Taylor, Mark H., 2104 Woodland Ave., Raleigh; Walker, S. A., Manteo ;
Wormley, James W., Bennet College, Greensboro.

Some Statistics

C. S. P.HIMI.EY

4'o avoid the charge of plagiarism it may be stated that the figures of
densities per acre are taken from an article hy Roger T. Peterson in the
March-April number of the Audubon Magazine, so now we can get started.
North Carolina has an area of 33,552,640 acres. At an estimate of one

46

THE CHAT

and a half pairs of birds per acre, this would give us 100,657,920 breeding
birds in our State. Of course, in certain places the breeding bird population
would be much greater. For instance, on my three-quarter acre garden
there are about a dozen pairs of breeding birds or around 25 birds to the
acre. To show the contrast, in Kansas, according to Peterson, some of the
heaviest bird populations in the whole country have been found in lots
around farm houses with plenty of fruit and shade trees, while in fields of
cultivated crops the population in the same state has run as low as less than
one bird to every five acres. Now each of our hundred million birds will
presumably pair off and according again to Peterson should have by the end
of summer an additional two young per pair, or another hundred millions.
If all lived through till next year and kept on multiplying at the same rate,
in only fifteen years we would have a bird population of about 6,553,800,-
000,000 plus, which would mean around 65,000 times as many birds as the
country could feed, and they would all be starving to death.

Now an increase of two additional young birds per pair does not seem
very unreasonable. A Bob-white lays a dozen eggs to the set, and a Caro-
lina Wren lays five eggs to the set and raises not infrequently three broods.
So the survival of two young for each breeding pair does not seem so pre-
posterous until we see what it would lead to mathematically in the way of
over-population.

Since the bird population stays about stationary from year to year, we
know that a number of birds about equal to the number of raised young
must perish before the next breeding season comes. This loss comes from
all sorts of causes, storms, predators, parasites, diseases, and so on, but most
of all probably from pressure of population making it hard for the excess,
particularly the weaker individuals, to get enough to eat. And so when the
next year runs around again all the old and weak have gione and only the
more robust are left to take up the old routine. So do not be too unhappy
when Tom the Cat, or Bill the Boy destroys a bird. In all probability if
Tom or Bill bad failed to get him, something else would. The bird popu-
lation can stand tbe normal disasters, but what really hurts the birds is tbe
destruction of their breeding or feeding grounds. For instance, my lot has
nearly a dozen trees around the edges, a number of bushes, an Eleagnus
hedge, and so on, to furnish nesting places for its birds. But if I cut down
the trees, grubbed up the hedge, and cleaned out the bushes, instead of ten
or a dozen nesting pairs, there would very probably be left only the pair of
English Sparrows under the eaves. My place, I might say, is infested with
cats, dogs and wharf rats, yet the birds survive and seem to live happily
there, for they can find places to nest and raise their young.

T H E C H A 'E

47

Glossy Ibis Nests Near Southport

C. S. lilUMi.KY, liak>igh

Churchill Bragaw, of Orton, wrote my brother, H. H. Brimley, that he
had seen a pair of Eastern Glossy Ibis {Flegadis falcinellus jalcinellus) ,
in the heron rookery on Battery Island near Southport on May 17, 1940.
They were seen the next day at the same place by Waters Thompson and
Alex West. Bragaw suggested they might be intending to breed.

No further news came in about them until on July 19 Thompson wrote
H. T. Davis, of the State Museum, that he had seen the young birds in
the rookery some time previous ; one of these young birds being twice as
large as the other. On July 15 he returned to the rookery and found
the smaller bird dead, and the larger one about ready to fly. He took some
photographs of this bird, and also made water-color sketches of it with the
adult. These sketches were sent to the State Museum and were displayed
at the fall meeting of the North Carolina Bird Club.

Bragaw pointed out that this nest was unusual in its location in being
near nests of other birds. Howell, in Florida Bird Life, p. 117, quotes
Oscar E. Baynard : “Glossy Ibises are pugnacious in their relation with
other species, and will drive away any White Ibises or herons that attempt
to nest within a distance of 10 feet of their own nests, and gradually dis-
mantle the deserted nests.” The Southport nest was located in a tree over
20 feet from the ground, and in the midst of so many heron nests that
Bragaw had to search carefully to distinguish the ibis nest from those of
the herons.

The Southport record appears to be the first case of these birds breeding
north of central Florida, as the 4th A. O. U. check-list gives the breeding
range of this bird as “rarely and locally in central Florida and probably
Louisiana and Mexico,” and also other southern countries.

We have only three other records of this bird being found within the
State. In July or August, 1926, one was taken out of a flock of five near
Pea Island; one taken at Atlantic near Beaufort February 9, 1940; and
S. A. Walker observed one on the Pea Island refuge April 20, 27, 1940.
The check-list states that these birds range casually northward to Nova
Scotia and Colorado.

48

THE CHAT

New Members, March 20-May 19, 1941

Allee, Mrs. Georste, 84 National Ave., New
Hern.

.Anderson, .Mrs. H. C’., Henderson.

.\rmstroii({. Tomm.v, I’ark St., Parkersburjr,
West Va.

-Austin, .Miss Kene, 640 t'lierry St., States-
ville.

Bernard, .Mrs. .1. B., .301 Beall St., Lenoir.

Brewer, .Mrs. S., Henderson.

Burton, .Miss Carrie, Henderson.

Barton, .Mrs. K. I... Henderson.

Butler, KandoI|>h, 334 M estern .Vve., Roeky
.Mon lit.

Carlton, Mrs. I.iitlier .M., I.aniar St., Ko.v-
lioro.

Carter, Miss Ruth, Henderson.

Chiireh, .Mrs. C. B., Henderson.

Cobb, .Miss Hazel, 800 .laekson St., Roanoke
Rapids.

Corpeniiifj, Clifton I.., > anee Hotel, States-
ville.

Heloplane, .Mrs. Walter H., 214 Swift St.,
Durham.

Dermid. .laek, 520 E. WortbiiiKton .Ave.,
Charlotte.

Eppes, .Mrs. > ietor, Henderson.

Everitt. .Mrs. E. G., Henderson.

Eox, .Miss Eli/.abetb, Henderson.

Garliek, Miss Sallie, Henderson.

(iill. .Mrs. T. C., Route 1, Kittrell.

tilover, .Miss \ iola, S. Rosemary Station,
Roanoke Rapids.

Grady, Cleburne, 443 Euelid Terraee, N. E.,
.Atlanta. Ga.

Grady. .Mrs. .lames B.. Clinton.

Haneoek. .Mrs. Ga.vlord, ,511 tjueens Court,
Statesville.

Harris, Miss .Mildred, 5 .Springdale Court,
Greens lioro.

Hieks, .Miss .Mar.v Elizabeth, 536 Hamilton
St., Roanoke Rapids.

Hopkins, .Miss Bertlia Barr, No. 11 Trinit.v
.Apts, Durham.

Iliifbam, .Miss .Mary, e/o .5Irs. J. R. Single-
ton, Washington.

•lobnson, .Mrs. G. K., Nutbush Road, Hamil-
ton l.akes, Greensboro.

■lobnson, .Miss Mabel Esther, St. Cauls.

■lobnson. .Miss .Mar.v Katlierine, St. Cauls.

Kell.v, .Miss Sue. Hemlerson.

Kell.v. \ irgil, 212 .Maple .Ave., Ea.vettei ille.

Kimbrough, .Miss Euniee, Coltrane Hall,
Roanoke Kapids.

I.aekey, Mrs. Dent, 504 AVest End Ave.,
Statesville.

Landers, E. E., Newland.

Leonard, Airs. Henry S., 107 Cineerest Rd.,
Durham.

I.esle.v, Aliss Sarah, 521 Stirling St., Greens-
boro.

Logan, .Miss Dorothy, Aadkinville.

Long, .McK. R., 406 Davie -Ave., Statesville.

Alagle. Henry, Reynolds Bldg., Minston-
Salem.

Alassenbiirg, .Miss I.illian, Henderson.

•Morrison, .Mrs. .1. R., Brookdale, Statesville.

•Aliilberry Street Sehoid I.ibrary, Aliss Sara
Rutledge, Crineipal, Statesville.

•Myers, .Miss Garnet, Henderson.

Cegram, Miss .Agnes, Henderson.

Chillips, I.. B., 280!) O’Berry St.. Raleigh.

Clott, .Mrs. AV. Ro.v, AA'alnut St.. ■Statesville.

Cumyea, Nelson D. AA'., 20 I'nion St., Alount
Holly, N. ,1.

Riekert, R. Al., 73!) N. Center .St., ■States-
ville.

Rigby, Airs. Dan AA ., 308 AA . End .Ave.,
Statesville.

Robertson. Aliss Alary R., Coltrane Hall,
Roanoke Rapids.

Russell, Airs. Liie.v IMiillips, Roekingham.

Kux, .Mrs. I.. C., Henderson.

Sharpe, Airs. Robert B., 505 Cittsboro St.,
Cbaiiel Hill.

Singleton, Airs. .1, R., AA'asbington.

Slaugliter, ,1. 11., 525 N. Bloodworth St.,
Raleigh.

Smetburst. .Mrs. Frank, 1605 St. Alary's
St.. Raleigh.

Smethiirst, AA'ood, 1605 St. .Mary’s St., Ra-
leigh.

Stewart, Aliss Alary AI., 1203 .Arsenal -Ave.,
I'a.vetteville.

Thomas, Bill. Chapel Hill.

Towe. Robert Leslie. 511 Roanoke -Ave.,
Roanoke Rapids.

Cpehiireh. Airs. R. T.. Henderson.

AAalters. Airs. Harold, 208 AA'. Franklin St.,
Chapel Hill.

AA illiams, E^llison .A., 27 Limehouse St.,

Charleston, S. C.

AA'illiams, Rev. .1. S., 10 1 AA'ood ward .Ave.,
Norwood I’k., .Asheville.

AA'ooten, Aliss Aliriam, Box 884, Statesville.

rOT.AI. AIE.AIBEKSHIC AI.AA I!), 1941: .531

( II.ANtJES IN .ADDRESS OF AIE-AIBERS

Coker, Dr. Coit AI.. A irginia Fisheries Lab-
oratory, A’orklown.

Davidson, Aliss .Azile. 635 AA'. Sh.irpe St.,
■Statesville.

Orr, Alark Ta.vlor, Box 568, Chapel Hill.

Robertson. Airs. Edna T.. Box 229. Boone.
T.vner, Airs. N. 1)., 1802 Rolling Road,

Greensboro.

AA'illiams, Frank. Box 4169, State College
Station, Raleigh.

(Announcements

VIRGINIA NATURAL HISTORY INSTITUTE an-
nounces its Second Annual Training Course for nature
leaders, June 23-August 2, at the Swift Creek Recreational
and Demonstration Area. Address the V. N. H. I., 907
Grace Securities Bldg., Richmond, Virginia.

AUDUBON NATURE CAMP for adult leaders will be
conducted for five two-week sessions, beginning June 13.
Located on an island in Muscongus Bay, Maine. Write
to the National Audubon Society for illustrated Camp
Folder.

FILL OUT and send in your Nest Record cards and Monthly
Check Lists.

A pair of Snow Buntings was observed on February 4, 1941,
at Clarkton, N. C., by Mrs. Grace L. Meares. This is the
most southern record for the State of this rare winter visitor.

The record of the Caracara from Alleghany County, North
Carolina (see Chat, November-December, 1938, p. 73),
should be thrown out. The observer, Clyde J. Smith, later
sent me a list of birds of the county, which included such im-
possibilities as Whooping Crane, Sandhill Crane, Greenland
Wheatear, Fish Crow, and Boat-tailed Grackle, thereby show-
ing that his determinations could not be relied on. — C. S.
Brim LEY.

Publication Of The New

Birds Of North Carolina

Is Assured !

See account by T. Gilbert Pearson, in this issue.

There is still time to send in your

prepublication order to the

State Museum, Raleigh.

The Chat

BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

VOL V. SEPTEMBER, 1941 No. 4

#5 wor

PUBLISHED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB PU&USHEP

At State College Station
Raleigh, N. C.

The Chat

Bulletin of the North Carolina Bird Club

John Obey, Jr., Editor Thomas L. Quay, Associate Editor

State College Station, Raleigh, N. C.

Application for entry as second-class matter is pending.

Published five times a year on the fifteenth of January, March, May, September, and
November as the official organ of the North Carolina Bird Club. Articles for publication
should reach the Editor by the first of the month in which the issue is published. Notifi-
cation of change of address or of lost copies should also be sent to the Editor.

Price of the bulletin, fifty cents per annum. Fifty cents of the annual membership
dues is paid as a year’s subscription to THE CHAT.

VoL. V SEPTEMBER, 1941 No. 4

CONTENTS

P.-^GE

In Memoriam 49

The Breeding Birds of Pea Island 50

Records From All Over the State 54

Smoky Mountain Birds , 56

The Inside Story of The Bird Book 57

Illustrations From New Bird Book 58

Birds of The Iliad and Odyssey 60

Nesting of The Yellow-crowned Night Heron 61

Nesting of The American Bittern 62

Hints for Amateurs 63

Blowing Rock Bird Club 63

New Members 64

THE NORTH CAROLINA BIRD CLUB

Organized March 6, 1937, for the study and protection of our birds. Member-
ship is open to those interested in this work, and is divided into four classes :
Members, who pay dues of $1.00 per year ; Sustaining Members, dues of $5.00
a year ; Contributing Members, dues of $25.00 a year ; Life Members, one lump
sum of $100.00. Nominations and applications for membership should be sent
to the Treasurer. Present officers :

President : Dr. A. D. Shaftesbury, W. C. U. N. C. ; First Vice-President : Miss
Grace xVnderson, Statesville; Second Vice-President: Mrs. D. W. Grinnell,
Arden ; Third Vice-President : Dr. Ben F. Royal. Morehead City ; Secretary :
Mrs. N. D. Tyner, Greensboro : Treasurer : Dr. C. H. Bostian. Raleigh ; Editor :
Rev. John Grey, Jr.. State College Station. Raleigh.

3tt ilpmm-iaut

Francis Hopkinson Craighill
1875-1941

In the passing of the Rev. Francis H. Craighill, rector of the Church of
the Good Shepherd of Rocky Mount, on October 14, 1941, the North
Carolina Bird Club lost a valuable and beloved member. He was not only
a charter member of the Club and its second President, but has been one
who carried many of the burdens in connection with its beginning and its
growth. For the first two years of the Club’s existence he wrote a large
number of the articles published in The Chat, and also stimulated groups
throughout the State in their own study of birds .and in the organization
of clubs. He was in the habit of taking a daily field trip around Rocky
Mount in the early morning and made a number of remarkable observa-
tions in a territory which is not particularly suitable for the varied life
which he discovered. He discovered the Florida Red-shouldered Hawk
being in North Carolina, and sent to the Museum the first specimen of
this bird taken north of Florida. Other important records are the breeding
of 'i'ellow-crowned Night Heron and the Prairie Horned Lark at Rocky
Mount; also the presence of Lawrence’s and Brewster’s Warblers, and the
Northern Phalarope, and Golden Plover at Rocky Mount. Through his
frequent trips to Nags Head he unearthed the first records of the Glossy
Ibis in North Carolina; and the breeding of Cowbirds on Roanoke Island,
which is apparently the only place within the State east of the mountains
where they breed.

Always interested in young people, he gave much of his time to work
with them, serving the Boy Scouts as Chairman of the Court of Honor and
as District Chairman. He often took some of his Scouts on his field trips
and trained several into competent field observers. He is also one of the
few ministers who needed two sessions of his Sunday School to accommo-
date the crowd. The local Kiwanis Club made him its President, and the
Church appointed him to membership on the Executive Committee of the
North Carolina Council of Churches.

He was born in Suffolk, Va., in 1875, of a long line of Episcopal clerg\ -
men ; received his A.B. at the University of the South and his B.l). at the
Sewanee Divinity School. He came to Rocky IMount in 1921.

When such a life is transferred from the Church Militant to the Church
"Friumphant it is truly the advent of a conqueror.

— John Griiv'.

4!)

50

THE CHAT

The Breeding Birds of Pea Island

Joiix II. (xKEY. .Ik.

Pea Island is that part of the North Carolina banks extending from
Oregon Inlet south to Hatteras Inlet, a distance of fifty miles. For this
article the name is restricted to the northern part of the island, to the
A1 igratorv AVaterfowl Refuge which is controlled by the United States
Department of the Interior through the Fish and Wildlife Service. The
refuge extends from Oregon Inlet to North Rhodanthe, which is fifteen
miles, including 5,700 acres of land and marsh, and also out into Albemarle
Sound to include 30,000 acres of water and small islands. Sam A. Walker,
of iManteo, is the refuge manager.

The part of the Island in the refuge is quite narrow, rarely stretching
more than a quarter mile from the ocean beach to the waters of the sound.
'Fhe area is protected from the Atlantic Ocean by low dunes, which are
being built up as the wind piles the sand over the brush fences installed by
the Civilian Conservation Corps. Most of the refuge is covered with low
vegetation, with an occasional bush. In a few places many acres are hare
of any covering, due partly to over-grazing in past years and the effect
of wind and salt sprat’ whipping across the narrow strip of land. The only
trees are a few small clumps of myrtles near the refuge camp at New Inlet.

'Fhe carrying capacity of the refuge as a wintering ground for waterfowl
has been increased through work done by the C. C. C. In addition to the
brush fences which they have built to prevent the wind wearing down the
dunes and the sea breaking through, the boys have planted grass {Spar/i/ni
patens) in some of the bare spaces, and behind the dunes to anchor the
sand and prevent further erosion, thus giving the flora a better chance to
recover the whole area. An artificial pond has been created by throwing
up a twelve-foot dike on part of the Island, thus impounding the rain-
water and any natural seepage. Sand for the dike is dug out of a pit on
the inside of the dike, the pit thus serving as a moat around the edge of
the pond and giving deep water for the growth of fresh-water plants liked
by waterfowl.

Although the refuge r\ as established for the sake of the wintering birds,
it has become an important migration station for shorebirds and also many
land birds, including the Flicker and some warblers. Its importance as a
nesting area is evident from tbe list of breeding birds in this article.

y\s a nesting area Pea Island is a specialized habitat, due to the hnv
vegetation and the absence of trees. It is admirably suited for terns, gulls,
skimmers and other ground nesters, and also for species accustomed to nest
near the ground, such as sparrows, wrens, Nighthawks, and Feast Ritterns.

1 spent the week of June *7-13, 1941, at the camp on the Island with
James R. Sydnor, of Richmond, and as the guest of Sam 5Valker. Some
day the h'ish and Wildlife Service hopes to have a more spacious camp,
which will he available to many nature students, Oii Ma\’ 28, 1941, 1
spent tbe day on the refuge with Walker, and others, making an estimate

'r 111-: Cl 1 A 'r

31

of the iicstinj^ popvihitioii, hut found we were ;i little early. The week in
June was at about the height of the nesting season. July 16-17, 1940, t\ ere
spent on the Island handing a thousand birds of eleven species. Data for
this article was gathered on these trips, and is combined with data gathered
by W alker since his arrival in 1937 at the opening of the refuge, 'i'his
recent data has been compared with information gathered by Louis IL
Bishop in his numerous trips to the Island in the early years of this century.
In determining the status of some birds much help has been received from
studies made by 'I'homas B. Burleigh at Kitty Hawk {Auk 54:454-460,
1937), and by the work on the Cajic Henry and Back Bay region in Vir-
ginia done b\ Mrs. xA. C. Reed, of Norfolk.

xAs the nesting season was at its height during June 9-13, 1941, 1 have
taken that period as basic, indicating the status of the bird as of that period
unless otherwise stated. At this time only a few stragglers were left over
from the wintering birds, and most of the transients had passed through
on the way to their nesting grounds, and the southward migration had not
yet set in. xAs a matter of fact, some species are beginning to return south-
ward before all transients have passed through on their rvay north, so that
there is probably no time when all birds seen on the refuge could be classed
as breeding birds.

In this June period we found 86 species. These are divided into: strag-
glers from the winter visitors, 14; breeders, including summer visitors and
residents, 32; transients, 18; and 22 species found breeding near Manteo,
on Roanoke Island.

Eastern' Green Heron. Fairly common along the. borrow pit or
moat around edge of pond. One nest, with four downy young, found in
myrtles near the camp, June 12, 1941.

Black-crowned Night Heron. A group of thirty nests was discov-
ered on June 12 in the myrtles near the camp; one nest had eggs, one eggs
and newly hatched young, but most of the young were well-feathered and
climbing about the branches. Only twenty-eight adults were counted as
they arose at our approach. August 6, 1941, there were about fifteen adults
and forty-five immature birds at the pond. Walker had noted a few adults
at the pond in past years but had not suspected a heronry.

'Vellow-crowned Night Heron. On June 12 four adults were
flushed In the marsh near the myrtles and flew toward the heronry men-
tioned above. 'Ehis is the first record of these birds on the refuge, and they
may not breed there. However, their nests are not easily distinguishable
from the above.

FIastern Least Bittern. xAbundant along edge of borrow pit and In
the marsh and many nests found. Recorded May 12 through August 15,
and need records for later dates. Young In nest May 31, and one young
bird seen xAugust 3, 1939.

52

THE CHAT

Common Black Duck. Resident. In the June period we found four
broods, two of these were just hatched and two appeared about two weeks
old; also nest with eggs. At the same time there were an estimated 100
birds on the refuge.

Gadwall. Adult and four young June 9, and nest with eleven eggs on
12th. August 15, 1941, there were forty-five birds on the pond, many of
which were young. Walker established the breeding of these birds in
North Carolina on June 12, 1939, when he saw an adult and young. In
1940 he saw forty young birds at one time.

Blue-winged Teal. June 9 we saw twenty-five adults on the pond
and one brood of young, and on August 8, 1941, there were about twenty
voung, which probably were three broods. Walker records them March 2-
December 28.

King Rail. One seen May 28, 1941, at the camp by Mrs. Charles
Barefield, and Mrs. A. C. Reed, of Norfolk. Walker had a nest near his
home at Manteo, June 9, from which two young were hatched. A few of
these birds winter, as Bishop lists them February 9, 1901, and ^Valker on
December 27, 1940.

Northern Clapper Rail. One bird heard calling June 12. The
dryness of the marshes may have accounted for their scarcity as they are
tolerably common breeders. Four young banded July 17, 1940, and
W^alker found nest and eggs May 31, 1940, at the pond.

P^LORiDA Gallinule. Six adults seen at the pond. June 13, and one
nest with two eggs found same day. August 16, 1941, we saw two young
birds. August 26, 1939, AValker saw eleven young, seven of which could
Hy fairly well. September 19, 1939, he saw fifty birds on the refuge, and
records them May 16 through November 6.

Wilson’s Plover. Fifty or more adults on the refuge near New Inlet.
4'wo \ oung, newly hatched. May 28, 1941, which is earliest date for young
birds. Recorded IMarch 27-August 31.

Spotted Sandpiper. One bird seen June 12, whereas May 15 and
Julv 16, 1940, thev were tolerahlv common. Recorded Mav 3-Septem-
her’8.

Eastern Williti'. Four adults at New Inlet June 12 which appeared
to be nesting. This form is not common at any time, though in fall many
of the western form migrate along the coast. A small flock at the pond
December 27-28. 1939.

L.vughing Gull. Abundant breeder on the islands in the sound; we
estimated 2,000 adults. Earliest nests May 18, and young June 20. Re-
corded March 28-Dccemher 1.

Gull-billI'D Ti;rn. Twelve nests seen June 11 on sandy upland just
beyond New Inlet. 'The State had only one nesting record of these birds,
and one fall record, before Walker observed their breeding on the refuge
May 30, 1938. In 1039 he counted 20 nests; in 1940 about a dozen nests,
and banded 3 young July 16, 1940. Recorded May 1 -August 26.

'r 1 1 K C H A 'J'

53

Common I'iiRN. Tolerably common breeder on islands in the sound
and on high ground beyond New Inlet, counting 100 nests on June 12 on
the small island just off New Inlet, few of which had a full clutch of eggs.
July 16, 1940, banded 134 fledglings, though most young were on the wing.
1 estimate 200 nests on the refuge in 1941.

Lii.AST 4Trn. About 100 birds nesting on the refuge, most of them
near Oregon Inlet. Earliest nests May 18, and by mid-July the birds have
become uncommon. April 22 to September 8.

Royal Tern. Only 25 adults were noted during our week in June,
and only 7 eggs on the island off New Inlet. In 1940, Walker estimated
1,000 eggs and on July 16, 1940, we banded 323 young. In 1939 there
were 16 eggs on June 16. April 2-December 1.

Black Skimmer. Estimated 300 adults on the refuge and located
fifty nests with eggs June 12, also many nests hollowed out, but birds had
not yet laid. May 28, 1940, earliest date for eggs. Banded 193 fledg-
lings July 17, 1940. November 13, 1940, Walker estimated 2,000 on the
sound shores. May 6-November 13 and probably later.

NiGHTtiAWK (sp. ?). Six birds near old Pea Island Coast Guard
Station June 10. Walker found a nest near his camp after mid-June.
Earliest nest May 20 and recorded April 30 to August 18. This is prob-
ably chapmani, the Elorida form, but we have no specimens.

Barn Swallow. Common during the June period, nests around old
houses on the refuge; nest with young at Sand Ridge June 11. Earliest
for eggs June 1, and recorded March 28-November 10. H. H. Brimley
found young in nest at Nags Head August 3, 1937. Why do we have
these birds nesting in the mountains and on the coast, but not in between?

Carolina Wren. One bird singing June 9.

AVayne’s ALarsh Wren. This Long-billed form is an abundant
breeder, with young on the wing June 12. June 16, 1940, banded four
young. Bishop listed them as resident, but 1 have not observed them on
the few winter trips.

Athens Yellow-throat. A few heard singing near the camp, July
16-17, 1940. None were noted on the refuge.

English Sparrow. A few at North Rhodanthe.

Southern AIeadowlark. Abundant breeder, with young on the wing
June 9. Burleigh took a male at Currituck Light Alay 30, 1932, and the
male I took near Cape Henry, Va., May 18, 1940, was referred hy Alex-
ander Wetmore to the Eastern form. The Museum needs a good collec-
tion of breeding specimens from this area.

Eastern Red-wing. Fairly common breeder among the cattails. Nest
with one egg, one toung, and one egg in act of hatching, June 12. Resident.

Boat-t.ailed Grackle. About 20 nests in myrtles near camp. Resi-
dent, but more common in migrations.

54

THE CHAT

Towhee (sp. ?). Uncommon breeder on the refuge, but more common
near iVlanteo. Lacking a good collection of skins from this area, we do not
list this as either Alabama or the ^Vhite-eyed form.

M acGilli\'RAv’s Se.aside Sparrow. Common breeder throughout the
marshes, young in nest May 28, 1441.

Bach M. ax’s Sparrow. Two males seen and heard near the camp
June 12.

Atlaxtic Soxg Sp.arrow. Common breeder over the area. June 11,
one adult followed by 4 hungry young worked for an hour around the
camp. July 16-17, 1940, we did not record them on the refuge. Bishop
lists them as resident with a few winter records.

Records From All Over The State

C. S. r.HIMLEY

These came to me as Chairman of the Committee on Records and in
getting up the Carolina Region part of the “Season” for the Audubon
Magazine, but the credit for them is due to the different observers, not
to me.

Arden (Mrs. D. W. Grinnell). Twenty-two species of warblers ob-
served in the spring. May 2 being an especially good day, when fifteen
kinds were noted, including Golden-winged, Blackburnian, IMagnolia,
Chestnut-sided, and Blackpoll. Alyrtle Warblers were present up to May
15, the latest day in the State this year. A Blue Grosbeak was seen on
April 22.

Chapel Hill. Twenty-eight species of warblers noted in the spring
migration ; some noteworthy dates, Nashville Warbler, April 27 ; Golden-
wing, April 23, 24; Bay-breasted Warbler, May 10, 14; Blackburnian
Warbler, May 6; Bob-white’s nest with three eggs on April 1; Swamp
Sparrow, May 24, latest date for State. (Tom Odum et al.)

Church’s Island. American Bittern’s nest on May 19. J. C. Rahh.
Further details on another page.

Charlolie ( E. E. Brown el al.). Barn Swallows in unprecedented num-
bers during the spring migration, and Bobolinks also in unusual numbers,
the latter were iew or missing at other places except Rocky Mount.
Twenty-one species of warblers reported. King Rails with downy young
on M ay 15.

Greensboro. L. L. McAllister reported a nest of the Blue-headed Vireo
in thin pine woods on May 4, adding another locality to its breeding range
in North Carolina, the previous localities being Statesville, Raleigh, and
Chapel Hill.

Henderson. Miss Hunter reports more Blue Grosbeaks than usual, and
gives us the latest spring date this year for Blackpoll AVarhler, May 30.

T f I E C H A 'r

55

Miss Fox reports seeinj^ two Horned Larks on May 28, which adds
anotlier summer locality for this species.

Morcjdnton. Rev. C. E. Gregory reports two Upland Plovers as seen
April 6-12.

Orion. Dr. E. E. Hrown saw the first 5’ellow-throated \Varhler and
Black-throated Green \Varbler on April first, not April 21 as given in the
Audubon IMagazine.

Pea Island. Sam Walker and John Grey give some interesting notes.
Only twenty pairs Royal Terns nesting as opposed to 500 last year ; most
likely they shifted to some other nearby locality as did those on tlie Cape
Romain Refuge in South Carolina. A Black Rail was noted in the spring
and an Avocet in the summer. A Northern Phalarope and a Glaucous
Gull in second-year plumage on May 28. A small breeding colony of both
species of Night Herons was found in June.

Raleiffh. Certain kinds of warblers were present in larger numbers
than usual from May 10-17. These were Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Wil-
son’s, and Canada. "Ehe latter had onlv two previous records to its credit,
M ay 13, 1892, and May 18, 1912. On each occasion only a single bird
was observed, while this year it was observed on both May 10 and 12, and
several birds seen each time. (It will be noted it skips about twenty years
between records here and may be expected again in 1961 !)

Rocky Mount. Craighill reports Nashville Warbler on May 12, and
Bobolinks unusually common. Four more nests of Yellow-crowned Night
Herons were found but not in the same localities as last year. Forty Wood
Ducks were seen on August 1, presumably mostly young birds raised in
the neighborhood.

Statesville. A very nice lot of nesting records was received from Maurice
Stimson, while Grace Anderson reports a House W ren so overcome by the
hot weather in July that it hung by one leg out of its nesting box in a vain
effort to keep cool. Both she and Sarah Nooe report that a pair of
V^eeries nested on J. C. Crawford’s farm this spring.

J'ryon. A Cerulean Warbler, and Lincoln’s Sparrow noted in late
April by A. A'l. Law and E. A. Williams, and a Swainson’s ^Varbler by
G. H. Holmes on May 9, the latter is the third record for the species from
"Fryon.

Ji’asliington. Joe Biggs reports an Orchard Oriole building in a bunch
of Spanish Moss, -which seems unusual though the nest itself was com-
posed of grass.

Jf ’inston-Saleni. Bill Anderson notes Song Sparrows remaining through-
out the summer for the first time and presumably breeding, altliough he
could not find their nests. He also notes House ^Vrens breeding, which is
also a first record, though he thinks tliey have bred there for several \’ears.
He also saw Pigeon Hawk, April 14, Baltimore Oriole, Bay-breasted and
Wilson’s ^Varblers on May 10.

56

THE CHAT

Smoky Mountain Birds

T. I.. (}UAY

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a vast wilderness area
still relatively unknown to ornithologists. Arthur Stupka, park naturalist,
has been studying the birds of the region for the past six years, and will
soon bring out the first annotated list.

Two hundred and two kinds of birds have been identified so far. Pos-
sibly one hundred twenty-five species nest there, and for purposes of study
may be arranged in their respective habitats. Only two groups can be
discussed here: (1) certain birds of large size that are now rarer in many
parts of the country than formerly, and (2) some of those found nesting
only in the high-mountain evergreen forests.

M any people have heard of Ravens, few have seen them. These storied
birds frequent the higher ridges of the Smokies. IMost any day one or more
individuals can be found soaring and calling overhead.

Rufded Grouse are quite common. At any time above the middle eleva-
tions a covey may burst into flight from along the trailside. The Wild
Turkeys, however, are rarely seen. For they are of the purest native strain,
and among the wariest of all wild animals. The best chance is on a grassy
bald at sun-up. One day in early July 1 saw a hen and eight bedraggled
chicks struggling through thick, water-soaked grass along the Appalachian
'Frail.

The Pileated Woodpecker, or log-cock, occurs rather plentifully at the
middle elevations. In such deep woods they are not readily visible, but the
slow, flicker-like calls give them away.

As opposed to other birds, the Chimney Swifts are neither large, rare,
nor difficult to see. But they are found over the higher forests many miles
from chimneys. The conclusion is that here they are still nesting in hollow
trees.

'Fhe magnificent Duck Hawk is all too rare even in this wild sanctuary.
A few pairs are known. Ci)ne pair has nested for several years on Duck
flawk Ridge, b\’ Alum Cave Bluffs. With a little patience one of these
noble predators may be added to your list.

Above five thousand feet the bird life of the Smoky Mountains is more
like that of northern New England and southern Canada than like that of
the middle and southern states. Around Raleigh, and throughout the Pied-
mont of North Carolina, the following conditions obtain: the Brown
Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Junco are common winter residents;
Wh’nter Wrens are uncommon winter residents; Red-breasted Nuthatches
and Pine Siskins are rare and irregular winter visitors; Red Crossbills and
Black-capped Chickadees never occur. In the spruce and balsam forests
of the high Smokies all these birds are nesting species. The Siskins and
Crossbills are not common. 'Fhe others are so common that they can all
he recorded on any short walk, any summer day. To have winter in sum-
mer, then, ornithologically speaking, take the short trip to the southern
highlands.

'1' H 1-: C H A '1'

57

The Inside Story of The Bird Book

.John II. (Jkey, .Ik.

Cop3' for the revised edition of The Birds of North Carolina lias been
turned over to the Bvnum Printing Company, of Raleigh, and type is being
set. The book should appear early in 1942.

So many people have asked about progress of the book that we are giving
here the human interest story and the latest information. It rvas definitely
decided that the book would be issued this past summer when Governor
J. Melville Broughton became Interested in the book and gave his enthusi-
astic approval to the project. This approval would hardly have been given
so readily had not the North Carolina Bird Club secured some 1,500 pre-
publication orders lor the book. Prior to the securing of these orders the
North Carolina Department of Agriculture, through Commissioner Kerr
Scott, had agreed to underwrite an edition of 3,000 provided the Budget
Bureau would approve such an e.xpenditure. The Budget Bureau would
not approve and said that no book issued by the State had ever sold enough
copies to pay for itself, and this was no time to risk the State’s money.

The ne.xt step was to secure proof of all black and white cuts used in the
first edition, and to check the 24 color plates which T. Gilbert Pearson
had in his office in New York and was guarding with his life. The
check-up showed that we needed a number of additional illustrations, so
Pearson got Roger Tory Peterson to make 18 drawings which will appear
in the book as black and white cuts. The superiority of these new cuts is

U.\RSII Il.VWK — M.M.K
one of the new illiiNtratioim

SNAKE HIKI) — lE.MAEE

MKiKANT SHRIKE ( L()jfy:erhc*a<l )

Illustrations From Nf.vv Bird Book

WHITE IHIS

V

\

,()N<i-EAI{EI) OW E

60

THE CHAT

shown by the accompanying illustrations. They are the finest cuts of birds
that have appeared in any work on ornithology. Arrangements were also
made with Pearson and with Houghton Mifflin Company to use some of
the color plates which appeared in Peterson’s A Field Guide to the Birds.

Then came the tragedy! AVhen Bynum Printing Company started to
run proof on the 24 color plates they discovered that 12 of the plates were
missing. In their place were 12 plates on birds of Hawaii. It looked as
though Pearson had locked the stable door after the horse was gone. The
cuts were evidently boxed up in 1919 when the first book was published,
and had been kept in the vault of the firm in New York which did the
color work. This firm went out of business in the 1920’s, and their equip-
ment was taken over by another hrm, which also failed. It was then that
Pearson took possession of the box and started his constant vigil.

However, the story is not as bad as it sounds, for it had already been
decided not to use two of the cuts and these were among the lost, which
left only 10 to be accounted lor. Although we have made a thorough
search of printing firms, museums, Audubon societies, and prominent organi-
zations, we can find no trace of these 10 cuts or their ever having been repro-
duced since 1919. Sufficient color plates are being borrowed from various
firms to complete the book so that it will appear actually with more colored
pictures than did the first edition. The only disadvantage will be that
there will not be the same uniformity in the plates as in the first edition.

Then came another snag. The printer found that the glossy-finished
paper which is needed to reproduce the various cuts could not be obtained
anywhere in the country before December 16, 1941. The defense program
has taken the major portion of the wood pulp used in this paper and is now
using it in a new process to make explosives from wood pulp rather than
from cotton. So the paper is to be on hand in December, and in the mean-
time t}pe is being set and plates made so that the book will be printed
immediately upon receipt of the paper.

Birds of The Iliad and Odyssey

Eddie W. Wil.sox. (’ary

The hird-loving reader of the Homeric legends, the Iliad and the
Odyssey, finds numerous references to birds. Not only birds in general are
mentioned in connection with the exploits and wanderings of the charac-
ters, but allusions are frequently made to the following individual birds:
the eagle, dove, owl, vulture, comorant, goose, crane, swan, falcon, daw,
hawk, starling, heron, thrush, swallow, sea-gull, and the “halcyon-hird” or
kingfislier.

According to these epics, gods and goddesses, warriors and those “of the
lower sort,’’ in moments of extreme doubt and peril, had great faith in

'r H E C H A T

61

omens, and certain birds were “birds of fate.” 'Eherefore, it is not sur-
prising tliat Odysseus, though repeatedly hindered from reaching his native
land, "had birds of good omen,” birds that cheered and encouraged him
amid his various adventures. Meanwhile, when Penelope was beginning to
fear that she would never see him again, Zeus or Jupiter sent forth two
eagles to convince her that Odysseus would finally return home.

Birds served as food, in fact, flesh was the principal food in Homeric
times. So when hunger preyed upon Odysseus and his companions, they
went “in quest of game, as needs they must, fishes and fowls.”

Birds were scavengers. For instance, at the siege of Troy, the bodies of
many heroes became “a prey to dogs and all winged fowls.”

The Homeric bard used birds in reckoning distance. In the Odyssey,
Menelaus, the selfsame “Menelaus of the loud war-cry,” crossed “a strange
sea” so “wide” that “not even the birds can make their way in the space
of one year.”

However, it is perhaps through the use of the word like that the refer-
ences to birds in the Iliad and the Odyssey are most pleasing. Both of
these epics are rich in simile. “Like sea-gulls the crew were borne hither
and thither on the waves.” “The Trojans marched with clamour and with
shouting like birds.” The ships of the Phoenicians were “swift as the
Bight of a bird, or as a thought.” Hector swooped upon Achilles “like a
soaring eagle.” “So the goddesses went their way with step like unto
turtle-doves.” Before Odysseus began the contest with the boisterous and
insolent suitors he “proved his bow-string, which rang sweetly at the touch,
in tone like a swallow.”

Nesting of The Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Near Rocky Mount, N. C

F. II. Ck.mgtiill

We (Randolph Butler, the Corinth boys and I) found all of the nests
on M ay 19th. The first two were in Halifax County, just across the line
from Nash. We got in a boat and went up the creek that feeds Bellamy
Lake as far as the logs would let us and then got out and walked. Both
nests were in pine trees about thirty-five feet from the ground, and like
all the nests we have found were built quite far out on slender limbs.
'I'hat makes them very hard to reach or inspect, so we did not discover
their contents.

I'he second pair of nests was in the woods behind the Frank Phillips
pasture in Nash County, near Battleboro. Of these, one was thirty-five
feet high, the other perhaps forty-fi\e. They were also in pine trees and
out on limbs. I'here were fresh eggshells on the ground, indicating the

62

THE CHAT

presence of newly hatched nestlings. All four of these nests were very
difficult to reach and we have not \’isited them since.

Although the four nests we found last year were robbed by the Cooper’s
Hawks that built nearby, ^ ellow-crowns seem more plentiful than usual
this year. Battleboro seems to be about the center of their territory and
though they nest singly or in small groups there must be in the aggregate
quite a substantial number of them. Their nests are built in thick woods
so that you have to get right under them to see them and it is rather good
luck than good management that we ha\e found the ten which is our total
for the last three years. The nests are more substantial than most other
heron nests 1 have seen, but nothing to brag on at that.

Nesting of The American Bittern in Currituck
County, North Carolina

Early this summer Mr. J. C. Rabb brought to the State Museum the
fragments of the shell of a hatched egg to be identified. The fragments
were sufficiently large to determine both the size of the egg and its color,
and in connection with the description of the nest by Mr. Rabb, given
below, were sufficient for H. H. Brimley and Mrs. Simpson to determine
that the egg was that of an American Bittern. This gave proof for the
first time that the species did breed in North Carolina.

The nest was found after the young had hatched and left.

“A nest was found on Church’s Island on May 19, 1941, in a clump of
rush {J uncus roenterianus) , and was four to five inches high, eight to ten
wide, and Hat on top. The nest material consisted of dead rush and grass
stems and leaves. The vegetation in which the nest was found consisted
of rush, marsh hay (Disfirlilis spicutu), pennywort {H ydrocotyle sp. ),
and spike-rush {Eleocharis sp.). 4'he nest was 15-20 yards from the near-
est cattail clump and open water. 4'his marsh is periodically subject to
Hoodings by wind tides.” — Joe C. Rarb.

1' HE C H A 'V

63

Hints For Amateurs

Winter Birds — Kinglets

C'. S. 1>IUM1.K\

(;<)LI)KN-( KOWNEI) KIMJl.KT IJ I BV-( HOW NED KIN<;EET

In the winter wlien the warblers, except Pine, Myrtle and an occasional
Palm, are all gone, their place is taken to some extent by two kinds of
Kinglets. These are olive-gray birds with whitish underparts and are
smaller than any of our warblers.

The two species are the Golden-crowned Kinglet and the Ruby-crowned.
The former has the top of the head yellow bordered with black in both
sexes, and in the male the yellow patch has an orange center ; the sides of
the head are whitish with a darkish stripe through the eye. This species
is the smaller of the two. It occurs from mid-October to early April,
mostly in pine woods, and usually in loose flocks or troops of 25 or more.

The Ruby-crowned is slightly larger, has no yellow or black on the crown,
the sides of the head are not perceptibly different in color from the crown,
and there is a distinct white ring around the eye. In the male there is
a concealed crown patch which is ordinarily red but very occasionally
orange. This species may be known by the white eye ring, the uniform
dull color, and by its habit of fluttering its wings when searching for insects.
It usually occurs singly but often in mixed flocks. It frequents thickets
more than does the other species. It arrives about the same time in the
fall but stays later in the spring.

Blowing Rock Bird Club

Lex.a. ('. Keevks

A branch of the North Carolina Bird Club was formed at Blowing Rock
on June 19, 1941. 4'he following officers were elected. Miss Lena C.
Reeves, president; Mrs. J. H. Winkler, vice-president; and Mrs. A. S.
Burns, secretary. iMost of the sixteen members have also joined the State
Club; their names are given in this issue in the list of new members. Grace

64

THE CHAT

Anderson and Maurice Stimson, of Statesville, spoke at the organizational
meeting.

At our July 2 meeting we were fortunate in having Alexander Sprunt,
Jr.. Supervisor of the Southern Audubon Sanctuaries, give us a lecture.
At the same meeting Albert Burns showed us his color pictures of our
mountains and wildflowers.

A FIELD GUIDE TO WESTERN BIRDS, by Roger Tory Peterson.
(Houghton Mifflin Company, 1941 ; 240 pages, 46 plates; $2.75.)

This is a companion volume to Peterson’s famous Field Guide, which
covers the bird life east of the Rockies. This new volume covers the birds
of the Rockies and the west coast. It follows the same pattern as his
earlier volume in describing the held marks which differentiate one bird
from another, and in pointing out the marks for which one should look in
observing birds in the held. It also includes a brief description of the song,
nest and eggs, and the usual territory through which the bird ranges.

There are certain improvements, particularly in connection with some
of the illustrations, and in the inclusion of the signs for male and female
in connection with the drawings. This book will be helpful to members
of the N. C. Bird Club in connection with western birds that occasionally
straggle into our area, and North Carolina has many of these. It will also
be indispensable to anyone making a trip to the west.

New Members, October 28, 1941

Beck. Mrs. Charles. BlowiiiR Roek.

Jiiirns, .Mrs. Albert S., Blowing Rock.

\ on Cannon, Fred. Banner Elk.

Carpenter, Miss Mar.v, Tryon.

Carisson. Miss \ ictoria. 130 Tate Street,
tireensboro.

Carriek. Dr. 1). B.. 800 X'. Main Street,
Jligli Point.

Carrier, llenr.v, Roekbrook Canii), Brevard.
Clark. .Mrs. Firnest. Blowing Ro<-k.

Cofl'ee. .Miss Ellen. Blowing Rock.

Cone, Mrs. Moses, Blowing Ro<’k.

Eaton. Mrs. 1). .M., Newton.

Edgertoii, .Mrs. N. Fi., .Ir., Tatton Ball.
Raleigh.

F’arniville (Jarden Club. ^liss Tabitha M.

I)e^ iseontl. 213 S. .Main St.. F’armville.
(Jaskin. .1. .\.. Bo.\ 1107, Wilson.

Cower. .Mrs. I’errin. 1013 Reid St., Raleigh.
Isenhoiir, Charles .1.. Blowing Roek.

Eassiter. iMiss Elizabeth, 213 Chestnut St.,
Henderson.

I.indan, Miss Sophie, Blowing Roek.

>latthews, .Mrs. C. F>., 227 .Jackson St.,
Roanoke Rapids.

O.vfonl Orphanage I.ibrary, Oxford Orphan-
age, Oxford.

Mood.v. .Mrs. C., Sr.. Blowing Rock.

I’revette. Mrs. C. S.. Blowing Rock.

Reeves, .Miss I.ena C., Blowing Rock.

Sperling, Miss Nanc.v B.. 312 -lackson St.,
Roanoke Rapids.

Statesville Ainliibon Chib. Statesxille.

.Stirling, Miss .\lison B., Banner Elk.

Stor.v, .Mrs. F;. F'., Binning Rock.

Martield, Dr. .Mar.v, Blocking Rock.

Winkler. .Mrs. .1. II.. Blowing Roek.

M roe, .Mrs. Fi. H., Blowing Rock.

lining. F'red II. and Douglas, 215 l.antz
.Avenue, Salisbur.v.

CIl.ANOFiS IN .ADDRESS OF MFiMBIORS

.Akers, Airs. .1. .1., 309 AVilder Building,
Cbarlotte.

Cone. Fidward T.. 1030 Summit Avenue,

(ireensboro.

Cox, tieorge .V., 1109 Ta.vlor Avenue, Drexel
Hill, I’enna.

Crawford, I.t. W. R.. Compan.v F', 05th In-
fantry. F’ort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.

Davis, Mrs. AI. .A.. 1512 Reno Road, AAash-
ington, D. C.

Funderburke, Aliss F’annie, Oa.v, On.

Kuerzi, Richard ti., Riverview Hotel, St.
Alar.v’s, tia.

AIcNair.v, Airs. Evelyn, Route 2, Box 307,
(ireensboro.

Robertson, Aliss Alary R., E. C. T. C. In-
firmar.v, (ireenville.

Aoder, Airs. Hilda, c o R. 11. Bowles. Hick-
or.v.

NOTE OF EXPLANATION

The September Chat has been delayed by circumstances beyond the
control of the editors. As the membership knows, the editor was in an
automobile accident, and upon returning to his church this fall, the press of
long-delayed duties did not allow time for birds. Not until after Novem-
ber 1 was there time to write the several articles planned for this issue.
Dr. Grey has fully recovered and is now working overtime on his cam-
paign to build a new West Raleigh Presbyterian Church.

We hope to publish the November number early in December, and
expect to be back on schedule with the first bulletin of the new year.
Members are urged to send in their bird observations and experiences,
however great or small.

— T. L. Q.

UPLAND PLOVERS were noted on Upper Creek, three miles north
of Morganton, on April 16 and 19, 1928, on the Spainhour farm. The
Spainhour boys say they have been noted almost every spring since then.
Two were seen on May 6, 1940, just outside Morganton, and one the next
day. I think they may breed in the bluegrass country of Ashe and Alle-
ghany counties. This is the first record of them west of Rocky Mount
since 1894. — Rev. C. E. Gregory.

A RAVEN with a wingspread of fifty-one inches was shot at Green
Mountain, Yancey County, December 26, 1940. — James Hutchins,
Windom.

The New

Birds of North Carolina

Has Gone To Press !

See account by John Grey, in this issue.

There is still time to send in your Christmas gift order to the

State Museum, Raleigh.