244 The Natural History of Selborne 



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 locomotion 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 flight, they raise their wings, and make 

 them meet over their backs. 



At certain times in the summer I had remarked that swifts were 

 hawking very low for hours together over pools and streams ; and 

 could not help inquiring into the object of their pursuit that induced 

 them to descend so much below their usual range. After some 

 trouble I found that they were taking phrygane*, ephemera, and 

 libellula (cadew-flies [caddis-flies], may-flies, and dragon-flies), that 

 were just emerged out of their aurelia state. I then no longer 

 wondered that they should be so willing to stoop for a prey that 

 afforded them such plentiful and succulent nourishment. 



They bring out their young about the middle or latter end of 

 July ; but as these never become perchers, nor, that ever I could 

 discern, are fed on the wing by their dams, the coming forth of the 

 young is not so notorious as in the other species. 



On the 3<Dth of last June I untiled the eaves of a house where 

 many pairs build, and found in each nest only two squab, naked 

 pulli ; on the 8th of July I repeated the same inquiry, and found that 

 they had made very little progress towards a fledged state, but were 

 still naked and helpless. From whence we may conclude that birds 

 whose way of life keeps them perpetually on the wing would not be 

 able to quit their nest till the end of the month. Swallows and 

 martins, that have numerous families, are continually feeding them 

 every two or three minutes ; while swifts, that have but two young 

 to maintain, are much at their leisure, and do not attend on their 

 nests for hours together. 



Sometimes they pursue and strike at hawks that come in their 

 way ; but not with that vehemence and fury that swallows express 

 on the same occasion. They are out all day long in wet days, feed- 

 ing about, and disregarding still rain : from whence two things may 



