Vol. XIX. 

 1919 



] Dove, Migration of Swifts. ee 



This species will tiy easily at the head of a wind-storm having a 

 vehxnty ol" 50 miles per hour ; in fact, it appears to revel in 

 storms ! It will fly with the wind for a time, then turn and fly 

 against it, without diminishing speed, and after criss-crossing in 

 a kind of gambol with the elements will go straight ahead again 

 to overtake the storm. When it is recollected that this Swift 

 commonly travels up to 200 miles an hour — Sydney to Melbourne 

 is but a two-hour or so journey for it — it will be realized that it 

 has no trouble in giving a start to the fastest wind-storm and 

 getting ahead whenever it chooses. Along the coast, as the night 

 gathers in, so their speed increases, until by the time it is dark 

 they are travelling in a veritable frenzy of energy, as if conscious 

 of being pursued by some evil demon of the air, and intent on 

 outstripping it. As the darkness closes in over the area through 

 which they rush, they are still flying as if they had no intention 

 of ever landing. According to Dr. Leach, the Spine-tailed Swift 

 has never been recorded as alighting in Victoria, but the spines 

 at the end of the short tail feathers are believed to assist the bird 

 in clinging to the face of a cliff." Most of these remarks by 

 W. M. S. I can endorse from personal observation in Tasmania, 

 where I have seen many thousands of Spinetails, but never 

 anywhere except on the wing. Their enjoyment of storms, too, 

 quite coincides with opinions expressed by me for many years 

 past in The Emu and other journals — that their appearance on 

 our coast is almost invariably accompanied by atmospheric dis- 

 turbance. It is extremely probable that this species flies all 

 night— when migrating, at all events— as I have seen them passing 

 overhead until it became too dark to distinguish objects any 

 longer. But the " frenzy of energy " possessing them just as 

 darkness closed in has escaped me — the birds seemed to continue 

 at their usual easy but incredibly rapid pace as long as they could 

 be seen. It is evident that vast numbers of the Spinetails never 

 visit our island at all, otherwise they could not be seen for eight 

 months in succession on the coast of New South Wales, so that 

 the total quantity migrating each season from the northern hemi- 

 sphere must be enormous. 



Other Migrants. — The Welcome Swallows {Hirundo ncoxena), 

 Tree-Swallows {Petrochelidon nigricans), and a great many Woocl- 

 Swallows {Artamits sordid us) appeared to leave with the disturb- 

 ance at the end of March, as well as most of the Summer-Birds 

 {Graucalus parvirostris). A good many Pipits (Anthus australis) 

 were noticed up to the third week of present month (April), ancl 

 some Wood-Swallows, which appeared to have delayed inland 

 long after the majority had gone, were observed during Easter 

 passing with their easy sailing flight out to sea, at a considerable 

 altitude, the last noticed being on 21st (Easter Monday). The 

 season is exceptionally fine, dry, and warm. 



