464 Short Communications : — 



spring on April 26. Several pairs having taken up their 

 residence at a house, entering under the eaves, I, on May 22., 

 examined this situation, and found that there were seven nests, 

 all of them containing eggs, two with a pair, four with three, 

 and one with even four. The nests, in this case, instead of 

 being some way up under the rool^ were all placed upon the 

 wall plate, although at some distance from the different en- 

 trances under the tiles : they were precisely similar in form 

 and structure to those previously described, the only difference 

 being in the materials of which they were composed. As, 

 however, they had been occupied for the same purpose the 

 preceding season, if not for a longer period, as was evident 

 from their appearance, it was rather a difficult matter to ascer- 

 tain precisely what the materials were. I should think prin- 

 cipally feathers and other light substances. I took the 

 precaution of removing every nest, and all rubbish ; and, as I 

 perceived that the birds still adhered to the same place, I, on 

 June 27-, again examined the same situation, and found that 

 the swifts had constructed eight other nests ; these, of course, 

 having been built since my previous examination. These 

 nests were, in form and structure, precisely similar to the 

 others, except that there was in some a greater profusion of 

 feathers, intermixed with a few straws and other light mate- 

 rials, all held together firmly by a viscous substance ; each 

 contained only a pair of either young or eggs. On removing 

 the tiles, several of the old birds would not leave their nests, 

 although exposed to view, until gently taken off. The author 

 of that interesting work, lately published. The Feathered 

 Tribes^ has remarked, in mentioning the different situations 

 selected by this bird, its occupying " the jutting rocks that 

 rise to a considerable altitude amid fertile places, and its in- 

 stinct leads it to adapt the structure of its nest to the ele- 

 ments. The straws and other matters of which it is composed 

 are said to be soldered to the rock, and to each other, with a 

 viscid substance, elaborated by glands for the express purpose, 

 though, perhaps, the same glutinous matter may more assist 

 the bird in the capture of its prey." I think I may now with 

 certainty state that the swift does not make use of the deserted 

 nest of the sparrow, except as a foundation on which to place 

 its own nest, the same as it would upon any other substance. 

 The swift is remarkable for its early rising and retiring late 

 to rest, and may be seen for a considerable time in the even- 

 ing after all the other i/iriindines have retired, and even 

 seeming to dispute the acquisition of flies, &c., with the bats, 

 whose flapping movements are strangely contrasted with the 

 swift's rapid and silent evolutions ; for at these times it is 



