89 



THE OTTAWA COLONY OF CHIMNEY SWIFTS 

 (CH.^TURA PELAGIC A). 



By A. G. KIXOSTOK. 



(Read 2gth /a?iuary, i8gi.) 



Among the many different physical powers exhibited by animal life 

 in its endless variety of forms there is none which has so much im- 

 pressed the mind of man in every age as that one so widely character- 

 istic of the feathered class, the gift of flight. In the systems of the 

 ornithologists a bird may take higher or lower rank according to the 

 development or simplicity of its internal structure ; but in the eyes of 

 mankind at large, let but the power of rapid and untiring flight be 

 shown in a high state of perfection, and just in that measure will its 

 possessor approach the ideal bird. Throughout the whole class there 

 are few, if any, families which in this respect can rival the Swifts. 



The Albatross and the Frigate Bird can indeed sweep over immense 

 stretches of ocean in an hour's time, but, after all, the sea and the earth 

 enter largely into the life of these birds. Their food is sought amid the 

 waves, their nests are placed among the rocks along shore ; but the 

 home of the Swift is in the upper air where he delights to spend every 

 moment of the long summer days. By him every function of life, except 

 sleep and the incubation of the egg, is performed upon the wing ; 

 and every organ of the body, as we shall see, is specialized to fit it for 

 this purpose, almost to the disregard of all others. 



In most parts of Eastern Canada and the United States the Chim- 

 ney Swift is one of our most common city birds, often an uninvited 

 guest within our houses and spending the short summer nights within a 

 few feet of our beds. 



Here in Ottawa every stroller upon Parliament Hill during the pleas 

 ant evenings in spring, and again in the later summer months, is 

 amused by the merry twittering and rhythmic whirling motion of that 

 countless cloud of little birds circling round one of the towers of the 

 Government Buildings. And in the height of summer no better example 

 can be found of the power and grace of motion than to see one of these 

 same swifts, after soaring for some time high in the air, descend and, 

 hurrying along just over the roofs of the houses, wheel once or twice 

 chimney where his nest is hung, and suddenly arresting his 



