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feats executed, generally on the wing, but sometimes on land or water. 

 The drumming of the partridge is a familiar instance of this kind of 

 performance ; and though very different in style, the courtship of the 

 chimney swift may be classed under the same head. At all other 

 seasons they hunt singly or in pairs, twittering frequently ; but during 

 the latter half of May they are almost always to be seen in groups of 

 three. The twittering becomes almost a continuous trill, and the lines 

 of flight more graceful. Neglecting those zigzag darts after insects 

 which mark their course at other times, and keeping for a long time the 

 same relative positions, the little trio sail low down over the houses and 

 tree-tops in long sweeping curves as if conscious of being on exhibition. 

 By the first week in June these preliminaries are over. The unfortunate 

 rejected has given up the suit and has retired to spend the summer in 

 celibacy, with others equally unlucky, at the tower; and the mated ones 

 at once set about the selection of a suitable chimney, free from fire and 

 smoke, and tolerably clean from soot for the firm attachment of the 

 nest. The few necessary building materials are supplied by any tall 

 tree having dead twigs at the top. The birds while on the wing seize 

 the twigs, and by a sudden twist break off short pieces and carry them 

 away to the site already chosen. These are glued to the side of the 

 flue and to each other with the mucilage secreted in the mouth of the 

 bird as already mentioned, and are formed into a light and strong 

 saucer-shaped nest. No down or other soft material is placed within, 

 but the eggs are laid upon the bare framework of the nest. 



On the 3rd July, 1890, I was fortunate enough to discover the 

 nest of a pair of these birds in one of the chimneys of my house. By 

 removing the stopper of a stove-pipe hole and placing two small 

 mirrors in suitable positions in the flue I was able to see a good deal of 

 the household management of my little guests. The nest was about 

 three and a half feet above the pipe hole and eight feet from the top 

 of the chimney ; and was when unoccupied nearly hidden from sight 

 by a slight "jog" in the chimney. Although during several weeks before 

 that the birds had been heard in the flue and careful watch had been 

 kept, the operation of building had not been seen ; and indeed the 

 exact location of the nest was only made known by the long wings of 

 the bird projecting from it after egg-laying or, perhaps, incubation had 

 begun. 



