378 "Wayne, Some Birds observed near Charleston, S. C. [oct" 



species, and upon examination found the abdomen bare and the 

 skin wrinkled showing that incubation was going on even at this 

 early date. Upon dissecting the specimen it was found that two 

 eggs had been laid, while the third, which would have been the last, 

 was almost ready for extrusion. As far as my information on the 

 breeding of this species goes this is the earliest record for the South 

 Atlantic States, with the possible exception of the southern part 

 of Florida. It must be borne in mind, however, that the winter 

 of 1907 was exceptionally mild, and July and August temperatures 

 prevailed during the latter half of March. The day on which this 

 heron was shot the thermometer registered 94.2 degrees. 



Helminthophila bachmanii. Bachman's Warbler. — During 

 the month of March, 1907, I kept a sharp lookout in suitable 

 localities near my home for the arrival of this rare warbler, but 

 although I was in the woods almost daily no birds were observed 

 until the breeding ground was visited, when six pairs were located 

 in various parts of the swamp where the first nests and eggs were 

 taken in April, 1906 (see Auk, XXIV, Jan., 1907, pp. 43-48). 

 Some of the birds must have certainly arrived not later than Feb- 

 ruary 28 or March 2, as the first nest, found on March 27, contained 

 one egg. This nest was left until the 30th, when it contained four 

 fresh eggs and the female was incubating. 



On April 3 I found a nest which contained five eggs far advanced 

 in incubation. This nest and eggs was found within fifty feet of 

 the spot where the first nest was taken on April 17, 1906, and 

 doubtless belonged to the same pair. This nest was evidently 

 commenced on March 9, and as it requires fourteen days for the 

 completion, and five days in which to deposit five eggs, it will be 

 seen that on March 27 or 28 incubation must have just begun, as 

 the eggs were undoubtedly incubated for at least eight or nine days. 

 These nesting dates are important, and prove that although this 

 species does not winter it is one of the earliest migrants in the 

 spring and breeds even earlier than the resident Yellow-throated 

 {Dendroica dominica) and Pine Warblers (Dendroiea vigorsii). 

 It also proves that the birds which breed in South Carolina reach 

 their summer home much earlier than those which migrate along 

 the Gulf coast States and breed in the Mississippi Valley, for the 

 Bachman's Warblers that breed in the low coast region of this 

 State undoubtedly migrate along the Atlantic coast. 



