282 BBITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



colour. Easily distinguished from Swallow by larger 

 size, shorter tail, and colour. 



Situation and Locality. Holes in church towers, 

 chimneys, sea cliffs, under the tiles of houses and 

 barns. Our illustration is from a photograph of 

 a labourer's cottage near Leatherhead, under whose 

 tiles an astonishing number of Swifts nest every 

 year. The tenant informed us that he could hardly 

 ever sleep after daybreak on account of the noise 

 made by the hungry young Swifts. Throughout 

 the British Isles ; though there are districts where 

 the bird is not rnet with. 



Materials. Scarcely any, consisting only of a 

 few straws lined with feathers, and often glued or 

 cemented together with viscid saliva. The Swift 

 will turn to account the old nest of any other bird, 

 provided it is suitably situated, or even lay its eggs 

 amongst a collection of cobwebs and dust. 



Eggs.- Two, sometimes three and even four ; 

 white, unmarked, and of a narrow elongated shape. 

 Size about 1-0 by -66 in. 



Time. May and June. 



Remarks. Migratory, arriving in April and May, 

 and leaving in August and September. Note, a 

 harsh scream. Local and other names : Black 

 Martin, Screech Martin, Screamer, Squeaker, Devil- 

 ing. Gregarious, and very fond of its old nesting 

 haunts. Sits close by. 



TEAL 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 fourteen inches and a half; beak of medium length, 

 fairly straight, and almost black. Irides hazel. 

 Head and upper neck chestnut ; a narrow line of 

 buff starts from the base of *the bill, goes upward, 



