EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 161 



those of the Kinged Plovers. The ground-colour varies from 

 olive-buff to brownish-buff, the latter being the most common. 

 The eggs are generally pretty evenly, but not very profusely, 

 spotted with overlying markings of dark brown, and with paler 

 and underlying markings ; these spots are irregular, sometimes 

 almost fantastic in shape, and vary in size from that of a small 

 pea to a mere speck. The eggs vary in length from 1*8 to 1"6 

 inch, and in breadth from 12 to l'l inch. 



FAMILY CYPSELID.E, 



OB SWIFTS. 



Of the three species of Swifts which are enumerated as British 

 birds, one is a common summer visitor, and the two others are 

 occasional visitants. 



THE COMMON SWIFT. 

 (Cypselus apus.)* 



Plate 48, Fig. 2. 



The Swift, although one of the latest birds of passage to arrive 

 and one of the earliest to leave, is found in suitable districts in 

 almost all parts of the British Islands. In Norway it has been 

 found breeding as far north as lat. 69°, and has been seen up to 

 lat. 70°. It breeds throughout Europe and North Africa, being 

 most abundant in rocky districts. 



The nest of the Swift is a very slight structure, almost flat, 

 composed of bits of straw and other vegetable fibres, placed 

 together with very little art, and lined with feathers ; these 

 materials are covered with a viscid saliva which solidifies like 

 glue, and renders the nest hard and caked together. The Swift 

 obtains most of the materials with which it builds its nest whilst 

 on the wing, seizing a feather here or a bit of dry grass there, as 

 they happen to be blown into the air. It also finds hay, straw, 

 etc., under the tiles and in the crevices which it frequents, con- 

 veyed thither by Sparrows ; indeed the nest has even been found 



* Micropus apus — Sharpe, Handb., II., p. 40. 



