146 Migration of the Swifts in 1831. 



about the castle. These, I had calculated, would have been 

 the last I should see for the season ; but, to my surprise, a 

 pair of swifts presented themselves to my notice on the 10th 

 of September * (none having been observed in the mean 

 time between that day and the 14th of August), hawking 

 about with other Hirimdines just before dusk (a little after 

 six o'clock), between the Marine Parade and the town of 

 Dover. 



From the above facts, it should seem that the swifts for the 

 most part retire from the interior parts of our island consider- 

 ably earlier than they do from places near the sea-coast ; for 

 they had entirely disappeared in Warwickshire by the 1st of 

 August or before, as well as from the parts of Northampton- 

 shire through which I passed on that day ; while they were 

 still found in considerable force at Dartford, Gravesend, &c., 

 on the 4th and 5th of August ; and some at Dover, on the 7th 

 and 14th of that month. The pair that I observed on the 10th 

 of September, there can be no question, were on their passage 

 to more southern latitudes ; and, like so many other travellers, 

 had, no doubt, very recently arrived at Dover, where they rested 

 for the night, with a view to embark for distant climes on the 

 following morning. For it should be remembered that not 

 one was to be seen at Dover for the space of nearly a month 

 previously; and 1 looked for them on the 11th, and several 

 following days, in vain. 



It may not be out of place here, to mention that I am in- 

 formed, on the authority of Mr. Le Plastrier of Snargate 

 Street, Dover, that some years ago he discovered a swift 

 alive, among the bells in the tower of St. Mary's church at 

 Dover, in the winter, I much regret that my informant was 

 unable to state the month in which this unusual fact occurred ; 

 but he is quite sure that it was in the winter, and that the bird 

 was a swift. I am also assured by the same intelligent observer, 

 that he recollects many years ago a similar instance of a swift 

 being found in the winter among the bells of Stepney church. 

 Mr. Le Plastrier's father had the care of the church clock; 

 and on various occasions, when he went to repair or wind it 

 up, was in the habit of being attended by his son, then a boy, 

 who was an eye-witness of the above fact. 



* This is the latest date at which I ever myself observed the swifts with 

 us, save one, and that was the 15th of September, 1817, at Penzance; 

 where and when two or three were seen under precisely similar circum- 

 stances : a few birds only, associating with the swallows and martins, 

 observed just before dusk in the evening, on the sea-coast, remaining for 

 one day only or part of a day, and appearing after an interval of a month 

 or more had elapsed without a single one having been visible. (See *' Table 

 of earliest and latest appearances of ITirundines," Vol. II. p. 19. note f) 



