22 Contributions from the Charleston Museum. 



where the birds fed upon a species of mussel, but at the present 

 time few, if any, of these ducks are to be seen in the harbor of 

 Charleston. 



The Surf Scoter arrives with great regularity in autumn, and 

 I mention three dates upon which the first birds have been seen, 

 namely: November 4, 1895; November?, 1902; and November 

 12, 1904. On October 24, 1906, however, I took a specimen 

 near Mt. Pleasant. This duck is still abundant on Bull's Bay, 

 and also off the beach of Capers' Island. A portion of the beach 

 on Capers' Island is strewn with the remains of huge live oak 

 trees, some of which are far out in the surf, while others are merely 

 covered by each tide. Upon these live oaks innumerable mus- 

 sels grow, forming an abundant food supply for many species of 

 shore birds. 



If the weather is favorable, most of the ducks which have 

 wintered on Capers' Island, migrate during the second week in 

 February, while others which have spent the winter to the south- 

 ward take their places. 



57. Erismatura jamaicensis (Gmel.). Ruddy Duck. 



In Audubon's Birds of America, he says:* 



My friend Dr. Bachman informs me ttiat this species is becoming more abun- 

 dant every winter in South CaroHna. In the month of February he has seen a 

 space of the extent of an acre covered with it. Yet he has never found one in full 

 summer plumage in that country. 



I, also, have never seen this duck in full summer plumage in 

 this state. It winters regularly, despite low temperatures that 

 occasionally occur. I saw numbers of Ruddy Ducks, on January 

 19, 1886, a few miles from Charleston on the Cooper River, and 

 the winter of 1886 was remarkably severe. 



The Ruddy Duck occurs more frequently in fresh than in salt 

 water, and is an exceptionally tame bird, rarely flying when it 

 can escape by diving. 



58. Chen hyperborea nivalis (Forst.). Greater Snow Goose, 

 I have never seen this goose alive; in fact I have never seen nor 



heard any species of "Wild Goose" during all my wanderings 

 through the states of South Carohna, Georgia, and Florida. I 

 therefore quote from Audubon's Birds of America,^ Dr. Bach- 

 man's experience: 



» VI, 324. 2 VI, 214-215. 



