BIRDS 89 



ing plainly when it is expanded. The under parts are chiefly dull yellow- 

 brown, with a blue band below the throat. 



The song is a cheerful musical twitter, and there is a shrill alarm note, 

 " Tisit-tisit." The eggs, five in number, are larger than the House Martin's, 

 and longer in shape, white, with reddish brown markings. It breeds twice 

 in the season. 



Swift. Note that this bird comes under the order Coraciiformes (that in- 

 cludes the Woodpeckers), although most people would place it in the Swallow 

 family. It differs from the Swallow in having all four toes pointing forward, 

 and is distinguished by its larger size, its soot-black plumage (except the 

 throat, a duty white), and the long, scimitar-shaped wings. Every one is 

 familiar with its shrill scream in the air, and its marvellous flight " JACK 

 SQUEALER " is a common country name in consequence. There is no other bird 

 like it for its command of the air, and its mysterious disappearance in the 

 sky at night. There seems no doubt that the male Swifts rise upwards and 

 sleep on " widespread, tranquil wings " in the upper air, though no one has 

 ever seen them descend in the early morning. Otherwise the cocks roost in 

 the nest holes, or cling to a branch or some other hold on a building or wall. 

 The food is entirely insectivorous, especially beetles and flies, which are held 

 by a sticky saliva in the mouth. It has been calculated that a Swift catches 

 at least 2,000 insects a day. It is also, alas ! the prey of insects, being terribly 

 infested with parasites. In spite of the old popular belief, the bird can rise 

 from the ground, or any level surface, though it is rarely seen there. 



Its nest is placed under eaves, or in holes and crevices, and consists of a 

 scanty lining often a mere ring of straw, feathers, etc., picked up on the wing, 

 and cemented together with its saliva. Fierce fights for its nesting place 

 have been observed between the Swift and the Starling. The eggs are two 

 or three in number, a chalky white. The bird arrives in Great Britain during 

 the first half of May, and lays its eggs at the end of the month or in June, 

 leaving our shores very early in mid- August. 



Tit, Bearded, BEARDED REEDLING, or REED PHEASANT. Found practi- 

 cally only on the Norfolk Broads ; distinguished in the male by the " beard," 

 or more properly " sideboards " of black feathers hanging from between the 

 eye and the beak. It is recognized otherwise by its deep tawny upper colouring, 

 and the russet-grey of its under parts. The nest is generally among the reeds 

 and sedges in a reed bed or marsh, and is often lined with reed flower heads, 

 with occasional feathers. The eggs (five to seven, sometimes more) are white, 

 with a few scattered chocolate-brown streaks and scrawls. There is no " song," 

 for the birds are peculiarly silent in coming to and from their nest ; but there 

 is a thin call-note, " Ping-ping," not unlike the Reed Warbler's, and a short 

 scolding note, " Phwut." The young have four rows of remarkable white 

 tooth-like projections on their palates, their presence or purpose an unexplained 

 mystery. 



Tit, Blue. Is distinguished by its blue cap and general blue and yellow 



