HIRUNDINID=. 285 
18th of August, when, about half way across (we had . 
just lost sight of Portland-bill but had not made the 
Caskets), a considerable flock of Swifts overtook and 
passed the steamer; they were spread out in a long 
line, like a line of skirmishers, reaching from west 
to east nearly as far as we could see: the course they 
were steering was nearly south by east, a little to the 
eastward of our own course: this would have brought 
them to land between Cape La Hogue and Cher- 
bourg: they were plodding along, in a steady, busi- 
ness-like manner, nearly against a tolerably strong 
southerly breeze: there was none of the dashing 
here and there, and rapid turnings and twistings, 
which we so usually associate with the flight of the 
Swift. This bird is not always so regular in its 
departure as my notes would lead one to suppose, 
for there is a note in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1863 which 
records the stay of Swifts in some numbers as late 
as the 10th of September, and a few straggling birds 
as late as the end of the month; and Yarrell records 
their stay in the South of Devon as late as the 27 th 
of November. 
The nest is usually placed in a hole in some old 
building, such as a cathedral or church-tower, or 
some old castle or ruin, and occasionally under the 
thatch of a cottage. Cliffs also, either by the sea- 
side or inland cliffs like Cheddar, are also a favourite 
haunt for these birds, and their nests are placed 
amongst the crevices and interstices. If buildings 
