294 Wild Life in Wales 



and in the event either of their requiring rest, or of the 

 weather being unfavourable, it is quite possible that they 

 may sometimes be dozing quietly under our rafters, while 

 we are anxiously looking out for their arrival outside. 



A considerable number of Swifts nest at Llanuwchllyn 

 under the eaves of the low two-storied houses ; and here, as 

 in many other similar situations, they have a constant source 

 of danger awaiting them in the shape of the village cats. 

 On leaving their nesting holes they simply allow themselves 

 to drop ; and before their great wings have been unfurled, 

 and they are fairly under way, they are often within a foot 

 or two of the ground, and skim its surface for some yards 

 before rising. Many a poor Swift is then pounced upon, 

 and the survivors are so slow in realising the situation, or 

 so careless in taking the slightest trouble to avoid the 

 enemy, who is probably sitting in full view in the middle 

 of the road, that it is a wonder some of the little colonies 

 are not exterminated. At one part of the village, I saw a 

 Swift taken, by the same cat, on each of three evenings 

 on which I chanced to be passing that way ; and though 

 each of these victims was rescued, and was able to fly away 

 on being liberated, it could hardly be supposed that the play 

 only took place when there happened to be a gallery, or 

 that it often ended so bloodlessly. The visits, it may be 

 added, were not on consecutive days either. In the narrow 

 streets of country towns, I have more than once seen similar 

 captures made ; but, there, the traffic sometimes compels 

 the birds to exert themselves a little in order to avoid it, 

 and in doing so they keep out of the cat's reach also. That 

 they are able to do this at pleasure only emphasises their 

 extraordinary apathy, and lack of appreciation of the danger 

 they run from feline foes. 



The behaviour of the birds when captured, too, is quite 

 as Oriental. Kismet would seem to be their only creed ; 

 and without a murmur, and almost without a struggle, they 

 suffer themselves to be carried off, their wings drooping as 

 though broken. When rescued, the full dark eyes of the 

 captive betray as little of fear as of gratitude. As though 

 aware that even life would be too dearly bought at the cost 



