Hummingbirds and Swifts 355 



show much fear of other creatures? Are they quarrel- 

 some ? Did you ever hear one utter a sound ? 



They have been known to take sugar held between 

 the lips of a person, and nectar from a flower held in 

 the hand. Their nests are dainty affairs not. easily dis- 

 covered. They are saddled on a limb at a height of 

 20 feet, more or less, from the ground and are covered 

 with lichens like those on bark. The tiny nest is lined 

 with plant down and contains two pure white eggs, each 

 - inch long. The young hatch in 2 weeks and are 

 fed with minute insects which the mother has swallowed 

 and regurgitated. The male, it is said, is never seen 

 near the nest after the eggs are laid. 



The chimney swift. These birds are commonly called 

 " chimney swallows," but this name is objectionable, 

 for the swift, although it resembles the swallows some- 

 what in its habits, is not related to them. The whole 

 bird is the color of soot. It weighs less than an English 

 sparrow. It has smaller feet and a shorter tail, but 

 much longer wings. Its feet are used only for clinging, 

 and in doing this it is aided by its tail feathers, which 

 are stiff and have spiny tips. It does not alight on the 

 ground or perch in a tree, but spends its time on the 

 wing when not in a chimney or some similar retreat. 

 Swifts commonly fly higher than most kinds of swallows. 

 Like the purple martin, they are common in towns. 

 When both swifts and martins are in sight at the same 

 time, you can distinguish the swifts by their smaller size, 

 sickle-shaped wings, shorter tails, and more rapid wing 

 strokes. They subsist entirely upon flying insects. 



At what time of day are swifts most active? How 



