LXII.] 



OF SELBORNE. 



179 



of animals, viz. the insect, nothing is so common as to see the 

 different species of many genera in conjunction as they fly. 

 The swift is almost continually on the wing ; and as it never 

 settles on the ground, on trees, or roofs, would seldom find 

 opportunity for amorous rites, was it not enabled to indulge 

 them in the air. If any person would watch these birds of a 

 fine morning in May, as they are sailing round at a great height 

 from the ground, he would see, every now and then, one drop 

 on the back of another, and both of them sink down together 

 for many fathoms with a loud piercing shriek. This I take to 

 be the juncture when the business of generation is carrying on. 



As the swift eats, drinks, collects materials for its nest, and, 

 as it seems, propagates on the wing, it appears to live more in 

 the air than any other bird, and to perform all functions there 

 save those of sleeping and incubation. 



This hirundo differs widely from its congeners in laying in- 

 variably but two eggs at a time, which are milk-white, long, and 

 peaked at the small end ; whereas the other species lay at each 

 brood from four to six. It is a most alert bird, rising very early 

 and retiring to roost very late ; and is on the wing in the height 

 of summer at least sixteen hours. In the longest days it does 

 not withdraw to rest till a quarter before nine in the evening, 

 being the latest of all day birds. Just before they retire whole 

 groups of them assemble high in the air, and squeak, and shoot 

 about with wonderful rapidity. But this bird is never so much 

 alive as in sultry thundery weather, when it expresses great 

 alacrity, and calls forth all its powers. In hot mornings, several, 

 getting together in little parties, dash round the steeples and 

 churches, squeaking as they go in a very clamorous manner ; 

 these, by nice observers, are supposed to be males serenading 

 their sitting hens ; and not without reason, since they seldom 

 squeak till they come close to the walls or eaves, and since 

 those within utter at the same time a little inward note of 

 complacency. 



When the hen has sat hard all day, she rushes forth for a few 

 minutes, just as it is almost dark, to stretch and relieve her 

 weary limbs, and snatch a scanty meal, and then returns to her 

 duty of incubation. Swifts, when wantonly and cruelly shot 



