Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 13 



being gathered as fast as they are laid ; consequently the birds 

 lay again and again and the breeding season is extended into 

 August. 



Audubon quotes Dr. Bachman's experience with this bird as 

 follows: ' 



There is a naked bar, a few miles distant from the main land, between 

 Charleston and the mouth of the Santee, on which my friend John Bachman 

 some years ago saw a great number of these birds, of which he procured several. 



There is nothing in this statement that would imply that Dr. 

 Bachman believed these birds were breeding, although they must 

 certainly have been. The eggs usually number three, and are 

 white or bluish white in color, with a calcareous coating, and 

 measure 3.00X1.90. This species builds no nest upon this coast, 

 but lays its eggs in a hole scooped out in the bare sand. Upon 

 the advent of cool weather in October, the birds migrate south- 

 ward. 



FAMILY FREGATID.E: MAN-0'WAR BIRDS. 



34. Fregata aquila Linn. Man-o'war Bird; Frigate Bird. 



I have but one record of this species (which is tropical and sub- 

 tropical) and that was made on August 26, 1893, just a few hours 

 before the climax of the great cyclone which devastated the South 

 Carolina coast. A specimen was taken on Sullivan's Island, by 

 Mr. George Aldret, on October 20, 1906, between 7 and 8 A. M. 

 At this time, the wind was blowing at the rate of twenty-four miles 

 an hour from the north. At 5 P. M., a velocity of sixty-four 

 miles an hour was reached. This capture was recorded by Pro- 

 fessor Paul M. Rea-and the specimen is in the Charleston Museum.^ 



ORDER ANSERES: LAMELLIROSTRAL 

 SWIMMERS. 



FAMILY ANATID^: DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



35. Mergus serrator Linn. Red-breasted Merganser. 



A very abundant winter visitant, arriving as early as October 

 27, and remaining in large flocks until April 22, a few individuals 

 occasionally spending the summer. From the time when these 

 fish-eating ducks arrive until the first week in February, the adult 



» Birds of America, Vll, 32. 'Bull. Chas. Mus., II, 1906, 66. 'Spec. No. 946. 



