SWIFT. 89 



church towers, old buildings, especially if lofty, and sometimes 

 builds in cliffs. In these places it lays its eggs on such dust and 

 refuse as it finds there. In the city of Hereford they are usually 

 very abundant, and fly their summer evening races in the precincts 

 of the Cathedral with noisy rapidity, uttering their peculiar squealing 

 note, " Swee-ree, swee-ree," with much energy. The power of flight 

 the Swift possesses is very astonishing. Gilbert White likened it to 

 the swiftness of a meteor. Its body is very heavy as compared with 

 its size, and it therefore seems to bear out the assertion of the Duke 

 of Argyle, " that the heavier in proportion a bird is, the greater is 

 its power and velocity of flight." 



Swifts are not easily able to rise from the ground, unless they 



meet with some inequality on its surface, in consequence of the 



small size of their legs, which are stout and strong, though short. 



They serve them not only to cling to walls, but also as a means 



of defence after the manner of Hawks and Owls. The beak is too 



soft to be used to peck, but their sharp claws will penetrate tender 



skin. 



Why ever on the wing, or perched elate ? 

 — Because I fell not from my first estate ; 

 This is mj' charter to the boundless skies, — 

 "Stoop not to earth, on pain no more to rise." 



Montgomery— 5tVc?s. 



The Swifts come to us from Africa. They are the last of our 



summer visitants to arrive, and are the earliest to depart. For some 



cause or other, the winter of 1880-1 was very fatal to them, and the 



number of them is still below the ordinary average. 



The screaming cry of the Swift is one of the pleasantest ot 

 summer sounds, never heard in the heat of mid-day ; but in fine 

 weather, accompanying the fading twilight of evening, and the fresh 

 hours of morning. Cool long days are the Swift's delight, and at 

 such times he seems to know neither rest nor weariness; but 

 continues his headlong race for many hours together. 



To mark the Swift in rapid giddy ring 

 Rush round the steeple, unsubdued of wing : 

 Amusive birds ! say where your hid retreat 

 When the frost rages and the tempests beat; 

 Whence your return, by such nice instinct led, 

 When Spring, soft season, lifts her bloomy head ? 



Gilbert Whitk— Summer's Evening Walk. 



