THE SWIFTS 1799 



birds, being free from notches in its hinder border, but the upper wing bone, or 

 humerus, is unique on account of its extreme shortness and width. The swifts 

 may be divided into three subfamilies, the first of which {Micropodirue) is repre- 

 sented typically by 



In common with two others out of the five genera included in 



the subfamily, the true swifts have the metatarsus covered with 

 Swifts 



feathers, and the number of joints in the third and fourth toes 



reduced to three; while the first toe is capable of being turned forward like the 

 others. Among the species the Alpine swift (Micropus tnelba} is of large size. It is 

 of a general mouse-brown color, with rather darker wings and tail; the throat and 

 under surface of the body being white, with slight indications of dusky shaft- 

 hues to the feathers, while there is a broad band of brown across the fore-neck. 

 The length is eight and one-half inches, and the wing also measures the same in 

 length. This swift inhabits the countries bordering the Mediterranean as far north 

 as the Alps, and extending throughout Persia to the Himalayas, but wintering 

 slightly to the southward; while in Africa it is replaced by the allied M. africanus 

 extending from Shoa to the Cape. According to Messrs Fatio and Studer, the 

 Alpine swifts arrive in spring, toward the end of March or the beginning of April, 

 and depart at the end of October; although considerable difference takes place in the 

 time of arrival in various years, the backward or forward state of the season appear- 

 ing to influence the time of their arrival and departure to a considerable degree. In 

 the town of Berne these swifts frequent the tower of the cathedral. A few arrive 

 at the beginning of April, and after a .short inspection of their old home dis- 

 appear. In a few days, however, some few return, and their number is increased 

 day by day until more than two hundred individuals make the cathedral tower 

 their home. When they first come, the swifts are in good condition, and it is well 

 that they are so, as insects are few at that time of year, especially if April happen 

 to be a bad month. At this time they may be seen sitting in rows, hungry and 

 waiting for a more propitious season, and if they should attempt a flight, they circle 

 round the cathedral, without the harsh cries generally uttered during their gambols. 

 Every spring individuals are picked up which have succumbed to the cold, but on 

 the approach of fine weather the cathedral tower becomes the centre of great 

 animation. These swifts are very regular in their habits, at the dawn of day leav- 

 ing their roosting places to seek their food in mid air, and continuing their flight 

 until about noon, after which they are not seen. They rest until about five or six 

 o'clock, and then recommence the chase until nighttime; sometimes, on warm 

 nights, flying till as late as nine o'clock, and even during the night their cries are 

 loud enough to inconvenience persons living in the neighborhood. Their nests are 

 placed in all kinds of situations in the cathedral, in holes, spouts, or on the arches in 

 the interior; while some of the birds, probably driven away by the inhabitants of the 

 tower, have taken up their abode in a house in one of the most frequented streets of 

 the town. When once on the ground, these swifts, like their congeners, are unable 

 to rise, their long wings and short feet rendering it impossible for them to mount in 

 the air again, though they are able to cling to the rough surfaces of rocks or stones. 

 From this disability the swifts place their nests at a higher level than the point of 



