COMMON SWIFT. 237 



the Magazine of Natural Histoiy, has recorded another 

 curious instance in reference to the Swift. A pair of these 

 birds continuing after the usual time to visit a particular spot, 

 the situation was examined on the 2nd of September, and in 

 the nest were found a pair of young, probably only a week 

 old. The parent birds continued to feed them; on the 1st 

 of October they were ready to fly ; neither the old nor the 

 young birds were seen after the 4th ; on the 5th the nest 

 was examined, and found empty. " Thus," says Mr. Salmon, 

 " this pair of birds remained in this country nearly seven 

 weeks after all their associates had departed. 



Although the greater portion of the Swifts that visit, or 

 are reared, in this country, take their leave by the middle of 

 August, stragglers, — probably some of those that have visited 

 more northern countries, — are also occasionally seen much 

 later. R. B. Hale, Esq. M.P. of Alderley, saw one in 

 Gloucestershire on the 9th of September, in the present year 

 1839. One Swift was seen by Mr. Blackwall on the 20th of 

 October, 1815. A single Swift was seen in Perthshire on 

 the 8th of November 1834 ; and the Rev. Mr. Cornish saw 

 one in- Devonshire in the year 1835 so late as the 27th of 

 November. 



The Swift is generally distributed during its visiting season 

 over England, and is a regular summer visiter to Ireland and 

 Scotland ; but the remarks of several observers seem to prove 

 that these birds are not so numerous now as formerly. They 

 visit Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Lapland. In Sweden, 

 Professor Nilsson says this bird builds in hollow trees, even 

 in the woods. From Scandinavia the Swift appears to range 

 as far to the east as Lake Baikal. It is common over the 

 countries of the European continent ; and Sir William Jar- 

 dine includes it among the birds of Madeira. Montagu says 

 it goes as far south in Africa as the Cape ; but M. Tem- 

 mmck believes that it docs not go beyond the tropics. M. 



