126 SWIFT. 



nest that contained them, he also relates 'a pair of Swifts 

 has inhabited a particular hole in a cottage for more than 

 twenty summers.' This is not a solitary instance of four eggs 

 being found in one nest. They are white. The young birds, 

 which are hatched towards the end of June, are sedulously 

 attended to by the parents, while they remain in the nest, 

 but soon this care ceases, being no longer required; and in 

 some instances the whole family leave this country as soon 

 as ever the young are able to fly well. They generally leave 

 the nest towards the end of July, but sometimes are later, 

 as they remain in it a long time, until able, or nearly able 

 to forage for themselves. 



Male; weight, nearly an ounce; length, seven inches or more, 

 even up to eight inches and a half; bill, very short and black ; 

 iris, dark brown; head, broad. The whole plumage, which is 

 close set, with the exception of a small patch of greyish white 

 under the chin, is blackish brown, with a tinge of green, light 

 yellow, and purple. The wings, of extraordinary length, 

 expand to the width of eighteen inches; the second quill 

 leather is the longest, the first a little longer than the third. 

 Tail, much forked; the legs, which are covered with short 

 feathers in front, the toes, four in number, and all directed 

 forwards but the innermost, which is the smallest, and re- 

 versible, and the claws, which are short, blackish brown. 



The female resembles the male. In the young bird the 

 chin is white, the back has some of the feathers tipped with 

 buff white, and the tertiaries the same. 



