HIRUNDINHXE. 



from the foot of twelve, I fixed upon them an indelible 

 mark. The year following their nesting-places were ex- 

 amined in an evening when they had retired to roost, and 

 there I found several of the marked birds. The second 

 and third year a similar search was made, and did not fail 

 to produce some of those which were marked. I now 

 ceased to make an annual search, but at the expiration of 

 seven years, a cat was seen to bring a bird into the far- 

 mer's kitchen, and this also proved to be one of those 

 marked for the experiment." 



The Swift chooses for its nesting-place cavities under the 

 eaves of houses, holes about steeples, or in the old walls 

 of lofty towers, and in high windy days will remain for 

 hours in its retreat, motionless, and in the dark. How 

 great is the contrast when, on other occasions, it is seen 

 darting rapidly, or wheeling in circles, and screaming aloud, 

 while in pursuit of its insect food ; at one time sailing 

 with ease and pleasure at an elevation where the bird is 

 scarcely perceivable, and at another passing the angle of 

 a building, as has been observed, with the almost incon- 

 ceivable swiftness of a meteor ! Great power of vision 

 seems indispensable both to enable the bird to obtain its 

 food, and to ensure its safety under such rapid move- 

 ments ; nor is even this power always sufficient to guard it 

 against accident: a Swift on eager wing was seen in its 

 flight to be carried against a wall ; it was picked up stunned, 

 and died almost immediately in the hand of the observer. 



The nest is formed of bits of straw, dry blades of grass 

 and bents, bits of rag, and a few feathers, and being used 

 for years in succession, has the appearance of being much 

 compressed, and the various materials seem glued together 

 by saliva, or some mucous secretion, which is supposed to 

 be deposited by the birds themselves. Swifts are generally 

 considered to lay but two eggs ; but Mr. Salmon has found 



