IOO 



BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



white underneath; long, forked tail. Female has not such a 

 red forehead, and has less black on breast; under parts white, 

 and outer tail-feathers shorter than in male. Length. — Seven 

 and a half inches. 



SWAN, MUTE (Cygnns olor) 

 Local Names. — Cygnet (young), Domestic Swan, Tame Swan. 

 Haunt. — Rivers, lakes, ponds, etc. 

 Nesting Period. — March to May. 

 Site of Nest. — Near water, often on an island. 

 Materials Used. — A mass of rushes and reeds. 

 Eggs. — Six to Nine. Greenish-white. The largest egg of any 



British bird. 

 Food. — Water plants, and probably small molluscs and insects. 

 Voice. — Call, a low, trumpet-like " maul," and a Goose-like " hiss." 

 Chief Features. — Usually semi-domesticated, being in request for 



keeping on ornamental sheets of water. Very jealously guards 



nest, and not too good tempered. 

 Plumage. — Bill reddish-orange; nostrils, lores, nail, and basal 



tubercle black; pure-white plumage; black legs and feet. 



Male a trifle larger than female. Length. — Sixty inches. 



SWIFT (Cypselus apus) 



Local Names. — Black Martin, Black Swallow, Black Swift, Cran, 



Cran Swallow, Davelin, Deviling, Devil Swallow, Devil's Screech, 



Jack Squealer, Martin Du, Screamer, 



Screech, Screech Martin, Skeer Devil, Skir 



Devil, Squealer, Swift Swallow. 

 Haunt. — Buildings, ruins, rocks, and, of course, 



the air. 

 Nesting Period. — End of May and June. 

 Site of Nest. — Under the roof of a building, 



in ruins, crevices of rocks, trees, etc. 

 Materials Used. — Hay, feathers, and similar 



materials, glued together with saliva. 

 Eggs. — Two or Three. White ; i .o by .66 inch. 

 Food. — Insects. 

 Voice. — A screaming " swee-ree-ee," and a 



shrill " pir-r-r." 

 Chief Features. — One of the latest Summer 



Migrants, not arriving until early May, 



and departing by August. A remarkable 



bird upon the wing, a company rushing 



through the air in concert together. Easily distinguished by 



Swift. 



