104 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



looked for, and the last of them in about the third or 

 last week in August. The last of 1903 was observed 

 on 5th September. The latest record I have of one 

 seen was on 25th September 1892. In August 1881 

 a spell of cold rains decimated the ranks of the 

 Swifts, which dropped into the streets, or flew, 

 bedraggled and dying, into most unusual places. 

 The wet cold summer of 1903 killed off the first 

 brood, in most cases the chicks in the eggs perishing. 

 In one local resort the owner of the house informed 

 me that the old birds turned out the eggs, which he 

 found broken, with the unhatched young, on his 

 doorstep. 



UNSOCIABLE BIRDS 



Some birds are exceedingly sociable in their habits, 

 and delight, under various circumstances, not only to 

 congregate in flocks of their own species, but to join 

 in with those of others the Starling and the Knot 

 are particular instances. On the other hand, certain 

 birds do not court the society of their fellows, much 

 less that of other species. They may not necessarily 

 be rare, they are solitary rather, and unsociable. 

 The Purple Sandpiper (Trmga striata) is an example. 

 Its appearance is usually looked for in October, upon 



