of Selborne 157 



to live more in the air than any other bird, and to perform 

 all functions there save those of sleeping and incubation. 



This hiriutdo 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 even- 

 ing, 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 min- 

 utes, 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 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 propor.tion 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. 



