OF SELBORNE. 215 
for its nest on the wing, it appears to live more in 
the air than any other bird, and to perform all 
functions there save those of sleeping and incuba. 
tion. - 
This hirundo differs widely from its congeners 
in laying invariably but two eggs at a time, which 
are milk-white, long, and peaked at the small end, 
whereas the other species Jay at each brood from 
four to six. It is a most alert bird, rising very 
early, and retiring to roost very late, and is on the 
wing in the height of summer at least sixteen hours. 
In the longest days it does not withdraw to rest till 
a quarter before nine in the evening, being the 
latest of all day-birds. Just before they retire, 
whole groups of them assemble high in the air, and 
squeak and shoot about with wonderful rapidity. 
But this bird is never so much alive as in sultry, 
thundery weather, when it expresses great alacrity, 
and calls forth all its powers. In hot mornings, 
several getting together into little parties, dash 
round the steeples and churches, squeaking as they 
go in a very clamorous manner: these, by nice ob- 
servers, are supposed to be males serenading their 
sitting hens; and not without reason, since they 
seldom squeak till they come close to the walls or 
eaves, and since those within utter at the same time . 
a little inward note of complacency. 
When the hen has sat hard all day, she rushes — 
forth just as it is almost dark, and stretches and 
relieves her weary limbs, and snatches a scanty 
meal for a few minutes, and then returns to her - 
duty of incubation. Swifts, when wantonly and 
cruelly shot while they have young, discover a little 
lump of insects in their mouths, which they pouch . 
