58 EVERYDAY BIRDS 



same time the excitement of the flock increases. 

 Again and again the birds approach the chim- 

 ney, as if they meant to descend into it. Then 

 away they shoot for another round. 



At length the going to roost actually begins. 

 Half a dozen or a dozen of the birds drop one 

 by one into the chimney. The rest sweep away, 

 and when they come back, a second detachment 

 drops in. And so the lively performance goes 

 on till the last straggler folds his wings above 

 the big black cavity and tumbles headlong out 

 of sight. 



The swift makes his nest of twigs, and as he 

 cannot alight on the ground in search of them, 

 he is compelled to gather them from the dead 

 limbs of trees. Over and over again you will 

 see the bird dart against such a limb, catching 

 at a twig as he pauses for the merest instant be- 

 fore it. It is difficult to be sure whether he suc- 

 ceeds or not, his movements are so rapid, but it 

 is certain that he must often fail. However, he 

 acts upon the old motto, " Try, try again," and 

 in course of time the nest is built. And an 

 extremely pretty nest it is, with the white eggs 

 in it, the black twigs glued firmly together with 

 the bird's own saliva. 



