to leave her eggs. The trouble of it all made 

 her cross, and as I picked her up she tried to 

 bite me. And I ought to have been bitten. 



Ordinarily , however, the swifts are remark- 

 ably docile and friendly. If treated kindly, 

 they will allow you to stroke them and handle 

 them freely within a few minutes after capture. 

 I have sometimes had them cling to my coat of 

 their own will as I tramped about the woods. 

 They hiss and open their mouths when first 

 taken ; but their teeth could not prick one's 

 skin if they did strike. 



They are clean, pretty, interesting pets to 

 have about the house and yard. They are easily 

 tamed, and, in spite of their agility, they are no 

 trouble at all to capture. I have often caught 

 them with my unaided hand ; but an almost 

 sure way is to take a long culm of green grass, 

 strip oif the plume, and make a snood of the 

 wire-like end. 



A swift is sunning himself upon a rail. He 

 rises upon his front legs, as you approach, to 

 watch you. Carefully now ! Don't try to get 

 too near. You can just reach him. Now your 

 snood is slipping over his nose ; it tickles him ; 

 [91] 



