52 OUR BIRD ALLIES. 
be known by its dull, sooty hue, relieved only by a 
small greyish patch beneath the chin. 
The swift seems even more intolerant of cold than 
the swallow, arriving later and leaving earlier than 
any of its kith and kin. It is but seldom that a swift 
is to be seen in this country much before the second 
week in May, while even the last stragglers have gene- 
* 
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: 
i 
! 
The Common Swift. 
rally taken their departure by the end of August. The 
swallow, which usually reaches us in April, remains, 
as a rule, until October, so that its visit to us extends 
over just one-half of the year. 
Every now and then a swailow or a swift is noticed 
in the middle of winter, leading many to suppose 
