THE CHIMNEY SWIFT. 389 



and gyrating in swift evolutions, the whole body moving 

 in the same direction like a feathered whirlpool, their 

 wings beating with astonishing rapidity, and the volume of 

 their sharp twitter being almost deafening. As the black 

 cloud keeps whirling, becoming more dense as it nears the 

 chimney-top, every few minutes a section of the great host 

 drops into it. I watch them till by far the greater number 

 have thus disappeared. This is a common scene about the old 

 distillery, and may occur from the time of the arrival of 

 these birds, about the last of April or the first of May, till 

 the time of their departure in September. Thinking that 

 this chimney must be a breeding place, I kept watch of it 

 from an opening below, which gave a full view of the whole 

 interior, but not a nest could I at any time detect. Evi- 

 dently it was only a grand place of rendezvous, such as 

 these birds occasionally discover in various parts of our coun- 

 try. Both Wilson and Audubon cite instances of immense 

 numbers, even millions, resorting to some large hollow tree 

 as a lodging place, and issuing from it at the break of 

 day, in clouds, making a noise like thunder. 



This Swift was formerly called a Swallow, on account of 

 certain general resemblances. In its more important details 

 of affinity, however, it is now regarded by ornithologists 

 as coming between the Whippoorwills, and the Hum- 

 mingbirds. This arrangement in classification may show 

 the general reader how wide and deep are the gaps between 

 some of the families of our birds. 



As the chimney of the old distillery continues to be the 

 rendezvous of the Swifts throughout the season, although 

 in diminished numbers duringthe time of nidification, I con- 

 clude that it is a place of general resort for the males, and also, 

 perhaps, for such females as are not engaged in reproduction. 

 This view, I find, accords with that of ornithologists in general. 



