144 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



subfurcatus). It is sociable in habits, and builds in num- 

 bers in houses, making nests of any sort of light rubbish 

 it can pick up on the wing, such as feathers, straw, etc. 

 The materials are stuck together with saliva, and the nest 

 varies in shape, and may be either in a hole or stuck to 

 the roof. 



Three eggs are usually laid, and two broods brought 

 off in a year, the breeding season lasting from February 

 to August, and the birds resorting constantly to the same 

 nest, which they also use for sleeping and resting, never 

 perching outside. It has been said that these birds can- 

 not rise from the ground, but this is a mistake ; at least, 

 in several experiments. I found only one uninjured bird 

 that could not ; birds that are obviously hurt are fre- 

 quently found, for this Swift is constantly getting into 

 difficulties by entering places whence it cannot readily 

 escape ; it seems to be a very stupid bird. 



It has a clear shrill squeal, most frequently uttered 

 before roosting time, when flocks of them career round 

 and round before going to bed. It is not a migrator} 7 

 species, and in places where it is common, as at Calcutta, 

 is one of the most conspicuous birds at all times. I doubt 

 if it is advisable to encourage these birds where swallows 

 can be got to build, as they are not nearly so attractive as 

 the latter, and are apt to drive them away in order to take 

 their nests. But in default of the real Swallows, Swifts 

 are better than nothing. 



THE PALM-SWIFT (Tachornis batassiensis) is only a 

 little less in length than the House-Swift, but is really a 

 much smaller bird, being more slender, with a fairly long 



