iA Dove, Migration of Swifts. [^^^ 



Emu 

 t July 



company passed in a long trailing line, mostly by ones and twos, 

 it was very striking to watch this transformation take place as 

 soon as each bird was in the right position for the eye to catch it. 



A friend (Mr. W. G. Buck), when out driving on 14th March, 

 saw a number of Spinetails about 5 p.m. flying just over the tops 

 of a grove of gum saphngs, back and forth, as if hawking insects ; 

 this was about a mile inland, on a calm, sunny evening. On 22nd 

 March a single Swift was noticed from the Forth Hill, about 

 6 miles west of this, making north-west or seawards at 5.30 p.m. ; 

 moderate breeze from S.W. 



Early in afternoon of 30th, being close and showery from the 

 N.W., a small party of the birds appeared over the garden, flying 

 low (20 feet or so) and feeding. Shortly after a great company 

 appeared from S. an S.E. The air appeared thick with them, 

 from low up to 300 feet or so, dashing in all directions. One party 

 formed a loose cluster, as on 5th, and circled as if in play while 

 working towards north-west. This habit of forming a kind of 

 Pleiades and working along in that fashion, which has been noted 

 also in former years, seems peculiar to the Spinetails when on 

 migration ; I have never seen it with any other species. Although 

 the wind freshened up from the direction towards which the birds 

 were making, it did not seem to affect them in the least ; their 

 wing-power is so strong that it is apparently just as easy to go 

 against as with a good breeze. A Graucalus, or " Summer-Bird," 

 which was endeavouring to make in the same direction was blown 

 hopelessly to leeward. 



The morning of 5th April was thundery, with rain : afternoon, 

 clearing, with fresh N.W. breeze. Swifts were seen from 4.30 

 until 5 p.m. in small straggling lots, coming from E. and S.E., and 

 making directly north-west, not feeding. The following afternoon, 

 at 4 o'clock, a large number passed in similar straggling fashion, 

 and heading, as yesterday, against a fresh breeze : day was fine, 

 with drifting clouds, wind squally. These were the last Spinetails 

 observed. 



Under the heading of " The Elusive Swift," some instructive 

 notes were contributed to an April Sydney Mail by W. M. S. The 

 writer says that " along the New South Wales coast north of 

 Manly, and especially about Dee Why and Narrabeen, the Swifts 

 had been noted every day for eight months without intermission. 

 Always they are on the wing. These birds are supposed to land 

 occasionally somewhere, but the writer has never yet met an 

 observer who had seen a Swift anywhere but on the wing. Most 

 authorities are agreed that the Swift is the fastest flier in exist- 

 ence ; according to Gould, it can cross Bass Strait in an hour. 

 When in full flight, with all its matchless powers exerted, one of 

 these birds will pass over the head of an observer with something 

 of the effect of a rifle bullet. One hears a whistling sort of sigh, 

 has a dazzling impression of what looks like a brown streak of 

 light, and the bird is vanishing a quarter of a mile away before 

 the observer has time to turn round to try and follow the flight. 



