Birds by Land and Sea 



affinity between the swift and the swallow tribe apart 

 from their superficial resemblance, a fact to which 

 the birds themselves give countenance by frequently 

 consorting together on the wing, so that it is not 

 uncommon to observe swift, swallow, house and 

 sand-martins all hawking together. Of these birds 

 all fast fliers the swift ranks first in this respect, 

 achieving the greatest speed by the least exertion. 

 This he no doubt owes to the great length of his 

 wings, which, although narrow, are also very firm 

 and strong. 



The swift is in general a higher flier than either 

 swallows or martins, and it has been thought that 

 its earlier retiral was due to a deficiency of such 

 insects as swifts are accustomed to find in the higher 

 regions of the air ; but I am persuaded that this is 

 not the only cause, for, if the swift is abroad on 

 boisterous days, it will hawk with the swallows and 

 martins low down to the river, which, being pro- 

 tected by elevated banks, serves at such times to 

 draw all these birds under shelter and to a convenient 

 focus. 



The swift left us upon the first lull of strong 

 south-west winds, and the day was one of bright 

 sunshine, and notable for the immense number of 

 insects in the air. Columns of gnats swayed beside, 

 or above, most of the trees in the meadows, and 

 many of these contained such multitudes as to appear 

 like columns of smoke, and to be readily visible at a 

 great distance. 



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