276 NATURAL HISTORY 



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 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 some 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 Phryganece, 

 Ephemera, and Libellulce (cadew-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 30th 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 they had made 

 very little progress towards a fledged state, but were 



of insects, in this instance, was much larger than would have been antici- 

 pated from the notice in the text, and formed a considerable lump at the 

 base of the lower jaw and upper part of the throat, of a rounded form, 

 and measuring in length eleven lines and in depth half an inch : the skin 

 was so distended over it as to show distinctly and widely separated the 

 insertion of each of the small feathers. It was ascertained, by opening it, 

 to be merely a dilatation of the throat, and not a distinct pouch or cavity. 

 E. T. B. 



