OF THE. BIRDS. MENTIONED 217 
hanging nests under gutters and eaves in towns. Taz 
long and much forked (the two outer feathers very 
long), with a large white spot on each feather. The 
larger swift is entirely dull sooty brown, almost black, 
except a greyish white chin, and has a considerably 
greater expanse of wing. The smaller sand martin is 
a brown bird, and its nest holes in sandbanks at once 
distinguish it. Food: Insects only, taken in the air ; 
vomits undigested food in pellets (like swift and owls). 
Female: Has not such brilliant colours as the male. 
Nest: In May. Sztwated : Inside barns, outhouses, cor- 
ners of chimneys, etc., and om a support, e.g. a rafter or 
beam, near the roof, Shape: Like a saucer, or flat- 
tened cup. Open. Made of : Clay or mud with straw, 
and lined with horsehair, dried grass and feathers. In 
the same locality or spot (like the swift, house martin 
and sand martin) year after year. Second nests: Two 
broods yearly, in same nest. Eggs: White, spotted 
purply red (but vary in the markings). Four to six. 
18. SWIFT 
(Pages 144-153) 
Cypselus apus. (Gr. kypselos, the swift ; apus, footless, 
referring to its being incessantly on the wing.) Syn. : 
‘pcreecher’ or ‘ Squeaker,’ from its occasional shrill 
note as it sweeps aloft or round a steeple or house in 
