72 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



they are again all around, flying here, there, and every- 

 where. 



The swift is one of the latest birds to go to roost long 

 after the gloaming is passed his loud, shrieking whistle or 

 scream is constantly heard whilst he is chasing his mate 

 high up in the air; and then quite suddenly all is still. 



The swift does not make a long stay with us : arriving 

 about the end of April, it seeks more sunny climes than 

 ours early in August. Stray ones are occasionally seen as 

 late as October. 



Gilbert White asks the question, " Where do swifts go 

 when they leave us ? " 



" Amusive birds ! say where your hid retreat 

 When frost rages and the tempests beat ; 

 Whence your return, by such nice instinct led, 

 When spring's soft season lifts her blooming head ? " 



Most of our swifts come from and return to Africa, as is 

 now well ascertained ; but White, in his day, and others 

 as well, Lelieved that many swifts, swallows, and martins 

 hybernated in holes in the banks of rivers, under the 

 water, or elsewhere. 



Gilbert White was the first naturalist to draw attention 

 to the peculiarity of the foot of the swift, carrying all toes 

 forwards. The least toe, which should be the back toe, 

 consists of one bone only ; the other three of two each. 



The so-called edible swallows' nests, so much sought 

 after by the Chinese to make into soup, are the nests of 

 one of the swift family, and not of the swallow. 



The swift builds under the eaves of houses, in church 

 towers, and old barns ; lays from two to four eggs of a 

 dull white. They are very fond of the old thatched houses 

 in country villages, and a most engaging sight is to watch 

 their movements aloft; but it is no less interesting to 

 behold some half-dozen birds racing, as they do within 

 a few feet of the ground, through the narrow lanes of a 

 small country village, uttering their squeaky note, Smee-ee, 

 smee-ee : 



" With sooty wing 

 The shrill swift down the street before him swept." 



