Jack Screecher glues a solo 



The swift, like the sand-martin, is very defective 

 in architecture, making no crust, or shell for its 

 nest, but forming it of dry grasses and feathers, very rudely put 

 together. 



In general, they haunt tall buildings, churches, and steeples, 

 and breed only in such ; yet, in this village, some pairs frequent the 

 lowest and meanest cottages, and educate their young under those 

 thatched roofs. As they must stoop very low to get up under these 

 humble eaves, cats lie in wait, and sometimes catch them on the 

 wing. 



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

 the wing, it appears to live more in the air than any other bird. 



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 into little parties dash round the 

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