THE SWIFT 



not reaching its London haunts before the beginning of 

 May, or in early seasons the last few days of April. Its 

 stay is brief, and it leaves again during the first ten 

 days or so of August. I saw a single Swift, however, at 

 Twickenham on August 23, 1905 a remarkably late 

 record ; whilst on the same date two years later many 

 were passing down the Brent Valley near Stonebridge 

 (close to Wembley Park) in company with Martins. I 

 may add that this valley is a marked migration route for 

 Swallows and Martins, flocks often passing in late autumn 

 in countless numbers for days in succession. The Swift is 

 one of the most aerial of birds ; it is rarely seen to alight 

 anywhere, beyond dashing into its nesting-place and out 

 again. It is easily recognised by its dark plumage, long, 

 scythe-shaped wings, and short, forked tail. It has no song, 

 but its shrill, screaming note, often uttered with much 

 persistency in early June and shortly before departure 

 in August, is very characteristic. The bird becomes 

 particularly active and noisy towards evening, careering 

 about the air often at a great height, or in dull, cloudy 

 weather nearer to the earth. It feeds exclusively on 

 insects. Throughout its stay it is more or less gregarious, 

 breeding in colonies of varying size, and in autumn 

 especially assembles into flocks to migrate. The Swift 

 pairs for life, and returns to breed in one particular spot. 

 Its eggs are laid towards the end of May or early in June. 

 Its favourite nesting-place is a hole in a building, beneath 

 the eaves, or in a church tower. The simple nest con- 

 sists merely of a few straws or bits of dry grass, lined 

 with feathers, and often bound together with the bird's 

 viscid saliva, accidentally accumulated as the old birds 

 arrange the scanty materials. The eggs are two, as a 

 rule, but in rare cases three or four are found. They are 

 much elongated, white and spotless. The young are fed 

 occasionally for some time after they leave the nest, and 

 only one brood is reared during the summer. 



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