348 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



exactly suited for the nest ; working on from the 

 circumference, and yet shaping it as well as if he 

 had mathematical instruments to guide his pro- 

 gress. This hollow burrow reaches horizontally to 

 a depth of about two feet, and at the very ex- 

 tremity is placed the nest of grass, made cosy and 

 snug by a warm lining of feathers. The eggs, like 

 those of the house martin, are white. 



Every one knows that wonderful bird the Swift* 

 [Cypselus apus), \>w.t, alas! he is no singer; only 

 uttering a loud scream as he darts past us. Hence 

 in rural districts he is named " squeaker." He is, 

 indeed, the bird of the air, for he never alights on 

 the ground; for so long are his wings, and so 

 short his feet,t that he finds it impossible to rise 

 from an even surface, and cannot walk, but only 

 crawl over the earth. But his feet are not 

 intended for walking, but for clinging; and the 

 bird well knows how to use them for this purpose, 

 and hangs by sharp-hooked claws to the perpen- 

 dicular face of walls and houses. Well is this 



* The Swift is seven inches in length. Whole plumage 

 bro%vnish-black, except a small patch of dull white on the chin ; 

 beak and feet black. 



t The specific name of this bird, apus, means "footless." 



