THE SWIFT THE HUMMING BIRD. 289 



known a whole village in New England in terror and amaze- 

 ment at hearing one of them singing its strange song on 

 the edge of a swamp. The superstitious part of the inhabitants 

 considered it a prediction of some evil that was to befall a 

 widow of the parish ; but there was a diversity of opinion as 

 to who the hapless Chuck- will's- widow might be." 



The The Swift, so called from the remarkable speed 



Swift. o f hi s flight, is also known as "Jack screamer" 

 from the shrillness of his voice. He winters in Africa and 

 arrives in England about May, remaining until about the 

 middle of August. He builds his nest under the eaves of 

 houses and frequents steeples and other lofty edifices, 

 forming his nest of grasses and feathers. The esculent swift, 

 so called from the fact that its nests are edible, builds at 

 the sides of almost inaccessible cliffs, a habit which renders 

 the collection of these singular dainties very dangerous. The 

 nests aie formed f mucilaginous sea-weeds and have the 

 appearance of isinglass. They are considered great delicacies 

 in China, where they are found. They abound in Java. The 

 swifts resemble the swallows in several particulars and have 

 often been classed with them, there are, however, important 

 differences which separate them. 



Th Humming There are hundreds of kinds of Humming Birds, 

 Bird. nearly all of them natives of America, where 

 they frequent the gardens, and sip the honey from the 

 honeysuckle and other plants, like the hive and humble bee. 

 The humming bird is several times larger than the latter, but flies 

 so swiftly as almost to elude the sight. Its wings, when it is 

 balancing over the flower, produce a humming sound, from which 

 it takes its name. It is the smallest of the feathered race, and 

 is one of the most beautiful in the elegance of its form, and 

 the glossy brilliancy of its delicate plumage. Small as it is, 

 however, it is exceedingly courageous, and has violent passions. 

 The length of this bird is three niches; it lives partly on 

 honey obtained from flowers, but devours also great quan- 



