Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 99 



31, 1884; March 30, 1896; and March 25, 1899. It breeds abun- 

 dantly, and raises two and sometimes even three broods each year. 

 The spring migration is performed entirely by night, but the 

 autumn migration takes place chiefly during the day. Towards 

 the last of August and through September it is not unusual to 

 see thousands of these birds migrating southward — all following 

 the coast line of the mainland. Numbers of these autumnal 

 migrants stop for many hours to feed upon the fruit of the mag- 

 nolia {Magnolia grandiflora) , and it is a curious fact that the 

 birds seem to know exactly where these trees are to be found. 

 When they have satisfied hunger and have rested they continue 

 their migration. By October 3, few are to be seen in the vicinity 

 of Charleston, and towards the middle of the month they have all 

 left the State. 1 



The nest of this species is placed indiscriminately in low or 

 high trees, ranging from ten to ninety feet above the ground, 

 and is composed of small sticks, pieces of thorny vines, 

 cotton, and moss, lined with horse hair and rootlets. The eggs, 

 which are laid by May 10, are three or four in number, the max- 

 imum being rare. They are white, spotted with reddish brown 

 and lilac, and measure .98X-74. The Kingbird breeds abun- 

 dantly in the city of Charleston, and in the beautiful grounds of 

 Mr. D. C. Ebaugh several pairs bred regularly every year. 



This species winters as far south as South America. 



V 17/ 



174. Tyrannus dominicensis (Gmel.). Gray Kingbird. 



I quote from Audubon's Birds of America,^ the following ac- 

 count of this rare tropical species: 



After I had arrived at Charleston in South Carolina, on returning from my ex- 

 pedition to the Floridas, a son of Paul Lee, Esq., a friend of the Rev. John Bach- 

 man, called upon us, asserting that he had observed a pair of Flycatchers in the 

 College yard, differing from all others with which he was acquainted. We listened, 

 but paid little regard to the information, and deferred our visit to the trees in 

 the College yard. A week after, young Lee returned to the charge, urging us 

 to go to the place, and see lioth the l)irds and their nest. To please this amiable 

 youth, Mr. Bachman and I soon reached the spot; but before we arrived the nest 

 har" l)een destroyed by some boys. The birds were not to l)e seen, but a common 

 Kingbird happening to fly over us, we jeered our young observer, and returned 

 home. Soon after the Flycatchers formed another nest, in which they reared a 

 brood, when young Lee gave intimation to Mr. Bachman, who, on visiting the 

 place, recognized them as of the species described in this article. Of this I was 

 apprised by letter after I had left Charleston, for the purpose of visiting the north- 



' The latest record of the Charleston Museum for this species is October 16, 1909, 

 when it was leported by Messrs. Burnham and Rhett Chamberlain. 

 2 1, 203. 



