° 1910 J Philipp, Birds Observed in the Carolinas. 313 



Owing to the protection afforded by the North Carohna Audubon 

 Society, the colonies in Pamlico Sound were in fair condition and the 

 birds very tame, allowing a very near approach. 



5. Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida. Cabot's Tern. — Rare in Pamlico 

 Sound, N. C, the only locality in which it was seen. On June 26, six birds 

 of this tropical species were found on Miller Lump, off Buxton, in Pamlico 

 Sound. Here also three nesting hollows were found, each containing a 

 single egg advanced in incubation. The birds were breeding with a large 

 colony of Royal Terns (Sterna maxima). 



Mr. T. G. Pearson tells me that in 1908 about 75 pairs of this tern bred 

 on Royal Shoal. 



6. Sterna hirundo. Common Tern; Wilson's Tern; Big Striker. — 

 Very abundant in Pamlico Sound, N. C, where it was found breeding. 

 Rare along the beaches and keys along the South Carolina coast near 

 Charleston, and at Bulls Bay, S. C. ; not found breeding there. 



The largest colony \isited was on Royal Shoal, where 248 eggs were 

 counted on June 24, in a small area on the point of the shoal. The eggs 

 were 2 or 3 in a nest; one nest seen having 6, probably laid by two birds. 

 Other good sized colonies were found on Davis Lump June 26 (20 pairs); 

 on Legged Lump June 28 (12 pairs). 



Most of the eggs taken were advanced in incubation and many young 

 had already appeared. 



7. Sterna antillarum. Least Tern; Little Striker. — Fairly com- 

 mon on the South Carolina coast. Seen at Morris Island, Charleston 

 Harbor; at Raccoon Key, Bulls Bay, S. C. Common in Pamlico Sound, 

 N. C. ; seen on all the suitable lumps and keys. Breeds in each of these 

 localities. 



Four fair sized breeding colonies were visited. The first was on Morris 

 Island in Charleston Harbor, where 50 pairs of birds were seen, and thirty 

 nests with eggs, which on June 10 were fresh; a second colony of some 

 100 birds was found on June 12 on the south end of Raccoon Key, and ten 

 or a dozen nests with fresh eggs. The third and largest colony was on 

 Royal Shoal, Pamlico Sound, N. C, where some 200 birds were breeding. 

 107 eggs and 12 young being counted June 24, 25; a small colony of 20 

 pairs was found June 25 on Da\'is Lump, and 37 eggs counted; the eggs 

 taken from these Pamhco Sound colonies were incubated. 



Several other scattering pairs were seen on the small keys and banks in 

 Pamlico Sound, and the birds were seen daily during our visit there. These 

 colonies have greatly increased during the last few years, due to the activi- 

 ties of the North Carolina Audubon Society, which has provided a warden 

 to watch them. 



8. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Black Tern. — Rare and ac- 

 cidental in Pamlico Sound, where two individuals were seen, one on 

 Royal Shoal June 25, and the other on Miller Lump off Buxton on the 

 same date. I could not find that it breeds. 



9. Rynchops nigra. Black Skimmer. — Abundant in suitable locali- 



