20 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



structure of the feet is very different, all the four 

 toes being directed forwards ; the claws are also 

 very strong and sharp, enabling the bird to cling 

 to rocks and buildings. The Swift is one of the 

 latest of our summer migrants, not arriving at its 

 old haunts before May. It stays with us but a 

 short five months, and is off back again to Africa 

 in September. The Swift, like the House Martin, 

 is as frequently met with amongst rocks as amongst 

 buildings.^ This bird is readily identified by its 

 Swallow-Jike flight, nearly uniform blackish brown 

 plumage, short tail, and long narrow scythe-shaped 

 wings. You may also distinguish it by its loud 

 hissing note, often uttered so harshly as appa- 

 rently to make the air vibrate. No bird is more 

 aerial in its habits. All the livelong day from 

 dawn to dusk it keeps the air on untiring wing, 

 skimming to and fro, and flying about with 

 throbbing pinions that never seem to grow weary. 

 Its sole food is insects ; and beyond the notes 

 already alluded to it does not possess any song. 

 The Swift is a gregarious bird, and numbers of 

 its nests may be found close together. These 

 are either among the cracks and crannies of the 

 rocks, or in church steeples and towers, ruins, 

 castles, or even under the eaves of houses and 

 cottages. When in rocks many of these nests are 

 absolutely inaccessible, being made in narrow 

 crevices many feet within the solid cliffs. It is 

 very interesting to observe this bird dart down- 

 wards from the air and enter the nesting hole just 

 like a bolt from the sky. The nest is simple 

 enough, a few straws and feathers being all the 

 provision made for the eggs. These are almost 

 invariably two in number, very elongated and 



