314 Philipp, Birds Observed in the Carolinas. [July 



ties along the coasts and shallow bays of both North and South Carolina, 

 breeding where found. This bird was seen daily June 10-15 around Bulls 

 Bay, S. C, and June 24-29 in Pamlico Sound, N. C. The birds are late 

 breeders. In the largest colony found, of some 1,000 birds, on Vessel Reef, 

 Bulls Bay, the birds had just started laying, one and two eggs being laid; 

 on Royal Shoal June 24, the nests had 3 or 4 eggs, and one was found with 

 5 slightly incubated. No young were seen in any colony visited. 



10. Phalacrocorax auritus floridanus. Florida Cormorant. — A large 

 colony of a cormorant ascribed to this species was found breeding at Great 

 Lake, Jones County, N. C. The birds were nesting in a group of yellow 

 pines on the edge of the lake, the nests being situated from 15 to 75 feet 

 from the ground. On the date visited, June 18, all the nests but one had 

 young in various stages of growth, from newly hatched to almost full- 

 fledged. One nest contained 3 eggs advanced in incubation. One hun- 

 dred and twenty-three used nests were found. Mr. Pearson tells me that 

 this colony, which has been at the lake for some years, is slowly decreasing. 



11. Pelecanus occidentalis. Brown Pelican. — Not uncommon a few 

 miles north of Charleston, S. C. (Bulls Bay), where on June 12 over 

 five hundred birds were seen. Said to breed near Bulls Bay, but we could 

 not find the breeding place. 



Casual in Pamhco Sound, N. C. On Legged Lump, in the sound, on 

 June 28, four birds were seen roosting on a sand spit. Not known to 

 breed. 



12. Anas boschas. Mallard. — Very rare at Lake Ellis, N. C, in 

 summer. One was seen by Mr. Abbott at the lake June 18. The re- 

 mains of a duck of this species, partially eaten by minks, was found in the 

 marsh around Ellis Lake; probably a wounded bird unable to leave in the 

 spring. 



13. Aix sponsa. Wood Duck. — Abundant at Ellis Lake, N. C, where 

 it breeds in the big gum timber around the lake. Seen daily, singly or in 

 pairs; on one occasion a flock of six was noted. Comnion also on the 

 Hatteras Banks at Buxton, where it breeds. 



14. Ixobrychus exilis. Least Bittern. — Abundant at Ellis Lake, 

 N. C, where it breeds in the thick growth of wild rice and rushes around 

 the lake. Four nests were found, June 16-20, one of which had five well 

 grown young, and two others eggs advanced in incubation; one nest had 

 one fresh egg. 



15. Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. — Occurs abundantly in 

 the marshes of the Sea Islands, S. C, where seen June 10, feeding in the 

 salt creeks and ponds. Not found breeding there. 



Abundant at Great Lake, Jones Co., N. C, where it breeds. Seen June 

 18 and 20. At this date all the young had hatched and some were as large 

 as the old birds. In one cypress tree at the lake, not twenty feet high, 

 were eleven used nests. In another cypress, two nests with grown young 

 were noted and four other scattering nests. 



16. Herodias egretta. American Egret; Long White. — A small 



