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

 and, as its 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 

 invariably 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 thundry 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 just 

 as it is almost dark, and stretches and relieves her weary 

 limbs, and snatches a scanty meal for a few minutes, and 

 then returns to her duty of incubation. Swifts, when 

 wantonly and cruelly shot while they have young, discover 

 a little lump of insects in their mouths, which they pouch 

 and hold under their tongue. In general they feed in a 

 much higher district than the other species ; a proof that 

 gnats and other insects do also abound to a considerable 

 height in the air : they also range to vast distances ; 

 since loco-motion is no labour to them, who are endowed 

 with such wonderful powers of wing. Their powers 

 seem to be in proportion to their levers ; and their 

 wings are longer in proportion than those of almost any 

 other bird. When they mute, or ease themselves in 



