Class II. SWIFT. 405 



except the fmall time it takes in fleeping, and 

 what it devotes to incubation, every other adion 

 is done on wing. The materials of its neft it col- 

 lets either as they are carried about by the winds, 

 or picks them up from the furface in its fweeping 

 flight. Its food is undeniably the infers that fill 

 the air. Its drink is taken in tranfient fips from 

 the water's furface. Even its amorous rites are 

 performed on high. Few perfons who have at- 

 tended to them in a fine fummer's morning, but 

 mull have feen them make their aerial courfes at 

 a great height, encircling a certain fpace with an ea- 

 fy fteady motion. On a fudden they fall into each 

 other's embraces, then drop precipitate with a 

 loud fhriek for numbers of yards. This is the criti- 

 cal conjundlure, and to be no more wondered at, 

 than that infedls (a familiar inftance) (hould dif- 

 charge the fame duty in the fame element. 



Thefe birds and fvvallovvs are inveterate enemies 

 to hawks. The moment one appears, they attack 

 him immediately : the fwifts foon defifl , but the 

 fwallows purfue and perfecute thofe rapacious 

 birds, till they have entirely driven them away. 



Swifts delight in fultry thundry weather, and 

 feem thence to receive frefh fpirits. They fly in 

 thofe times in fmall parties with particular violence; 

 and as they pafs near fleeples, towers, or any 

 edifices where their mates perform the ofHce of 

 incubation, emit a loud fcream, a fort of ferenade, 

 as Mr. White fuppofes, to their refpedive females. 



To 



