170 SWIFTS. 



also abound to a considerable height in the air : they also 

 range to vast distances ; since locomotion is no labour to 

 them, who are endowed with such wonderful powers of wing. 

 Their powers seem to be in proportion to their levers ; and 

 their wings are longer in proportion, than those of almost any 

 other bird. When they mute, or ease themselves in flight, 

 they raise their wings, and make them meet over their backs. 



At some certain times in the summer, I had remarked that 

 swifts were hawking very low, for hours together, over pools 

 and streams ; and could not help inquiring into the object of 

 their pursuit, that induced them to descend so much below 

 their usual range. After some trouble, I found that they 

 were taking phryganece, ephemerae^ libellulas^ (cadew-flies, may- 

 flies, and dragon-flies,) that were just emerged out of their 

 aurelia state. I then no longer wondered that they should 

 be so willing to stoop for a prey that afforded them such 

 plentiful and succulent nourishment. 



They bring out their young about the middle or latter end 

 of July ; but as these never become perchers, nor, that ever I 

 could discern, are fed on the wing by their dams, the coming 

 forth of the young is not so notorious as in the other species. 



On the thirtieth of last June, I untiled the eaves of a house 

 where many pairs build, and found in each nest only two 

 squab, naked pulli ; on the eighth of July, I repeated the 

 same inquiry, and found they had made very little progress 

 towards a fledged state, but were still naked and helpless. 

 From whence we may conclude, that birds whose way of life 

 keeps them perpetually on the wing, would not be able to quit 

 their nest till the end of the month. Swallows and martens, 

 that have numerous families, are continually feeding them 

 every two or three minutes ; while swifts, that have but two 

 young to maintain, are much at their leisure, and do not attend 

 on their nests for hours together. 



Sometimes they pursue and strike at hawks that come in 

 their way, but not with that vehemence and fury that swallows 

 express on the same occasion. * They are out all day long 

 on wet days, feeding about, and disregarding still rain ; from 

 whence two things may be gathered, first, that many insects 

 abide high in the air, even in rain ; and next, that the feathers 

 of these birds must be well preened to resist so much wet.f 



* Swifts are very spirited birds, and being extremely pugnacious among 

 themselves, they sometimes fight till the contending parties are brought to 

 the ground, with the claws mutually clasping each other. ED. 



f Mr Henslow of St Alban's gives the following interesting proof of 

 birds oiling their feathers, a fact concerning which some eminent 



