112 THE BIRDS OF OXFOEDSHIEE. 



the end of that month and even on into September^ as in 

 i88i^ when they stayed in small numbers unusually late^ and 

 I saw one on the nth September. In 1830, Mr. T. Goatley, 

 writing of the late stay of Swallows that autumn, mentions a 

 Swift seen on the 27th of that month. The earliest date for 

 its arrival in spring- that I am aware of is the 27th April, on 

 which date I saw one at Bodicote in 1885. 



As suitable nesting" sites are not plentiful, many pairs often 

 resort to such when found, forming little colonies, which 

 return year after year, and many observers will be able to 

 recall buildings which, on a quiet summer evening, would seem 

 incomplete without the screaming Swifts dashing past the 

 holes containing their sitting mates, whose faint answering 

 scream may be heard under favourable circumstances. There 

 is a little colony in the chapel quadrangle, at Trinity College. 

 At Chinnor the Eev. B. D^Oyly Aplin noticed Swifts nesting 

 under the low eaves of the thatched cottages. 



Two nestling Swifts brought to me on the 28th July, 1880, 

 although fledged, were unable to fly, or indeed to do more than 

 push themselves about on their breasts, but after being 

 crammed with a paste of egg, beef, and breadcrumbs until 

 the 31st, both flew away on the evening of that day. 



[The Alpine Swift {Cypselus melha) is a rare visitor to this 

 country. One was shot near E-eading in August, 1841 

 (Harting's Handbook of British Birds, p. 126). In reply to 

 my enquiries, Mr. J. E. Harting writes, ' With regard to the 

 Alpine Swift killed near Reading, I am unable to say at this 

 lapse of time (if indeed I ever knew) on which side of the 

 river it was killed .... Considering the insectivorous habits 

 of the bird, and the usual abundance of insects near water, it 

 is highly probable that it crossed and recrossed the river 

 repeatedly in search of its natural food before it was shot ' {iti 

 lit., 9th November, 1887}.] 



