CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. I 57 



Swallow in any sense, its nearest allies being the 

 Humming Birds. The shape of the Swift — if you 

 observe it carefully — seems made for rapid flight 

 through the air ; the beautifully strong bow-like 

 wings, the forked tail, the long narrow-shaped body ; 

 the whole so symmetrically knit together ; is it any 

 wonder that it is able to outpace in speed any of the 

 Swallows ? These birds generally go in bunches 

 together, six to a dozen or so — never, or hardly 

 ever, in large flocks. They are very partial to 

 village church steeples and towers, and are most 

 wonderful in their powers of remaining on the wing 

 from early morning to late at night on a fine 

 summer's evening. Who that has watched them as 

 they dart past, in clusters of fives or sixes, like a 

 streak of lightning, generally squealing or screech- 

 ing, has not been amazed at their rapidity ? 



Mr. W. H. Hudson, in estimating the pace of the 

 Swift, says: "If we consider his rate of speed and the 

 number of hours he spends on the wing it would be 

 within the mark to say that the Swift, in a sense, 

 puts a girdle round the earth two or three times a 

 month." 



It would appear that Swifts return to their 

 favourite old spots every year, and few are there of 

 our English towns and villages that are not 

 acquainted with one of our most favoured summer 

 visitors. The Swift's nest is a combination of ofrass, 

 straw, and feathers, all collected on the wing ; and 

 made to adhere together by the saliva from the 

 bird's mouth. The most usual nestinof-sites are 



