those which were exposed. I mention this incident to give an idea of the adhesiveness of the glue used in the construction of Swifts’ nests.
July 20 I made the following note: {{dqSwiftlings no longer make use of the nest, but dispose themselves in various parts of the chimney, sometimes in a cluster, sometimes in twos or threes, and sometimes separately. They take flying exercises up and down the chimney, but 1 believe have not yet left it.}} The next morning I was forced to conclude that three had taken flight into the great outside world, for upon looking the chimney over thoroughly with the aid of a small mirror, I could find but two birds.
The chimney was much used by this interesting family until the 24th of August. Early in the morning of that day a large number of Swifts were seen gathering in a flock at a short distance from the house. Ten o'clock that night I searched the chimney with a lighted candle, but found no sign of life, and I believe that the Swifts did not again enter within its walls.
Three Cobb's Island Pictures
BY WILLIAM L. BAILY
RIGHT out on the sandy beach, just above high tide, the Black Skimmer risks her set of eggs, and, while apparently unprotected, they are so much the color of the sand and the surrounding shells and seaweed that they would not be noticed unless you were especially looking for them.
The Skimmers are gull-like in form, with long, slender body and long wings, spreading almost three feet. They have a glossy black back, white breast, orange feet, and a most curiously shaped orange bill, which is almost as thin as a knife, the thin edges closing vertically together. This peculiarity has given the bird the name of ' Razor Bill.'
Their graceful and regular flight can hardly be mistaken for that of any other bird. They skim just over the surface of the water, following the contour of the waves, while the lower mandible of their
