cate their young under those thatched roofs. I re- 

 member but one instance where they bred out of 

 buildings ; and that was in the sides of a deep chalk- 

 pit near the town of Odiham, in this county, where 

 I have seen many pairs entering the crevices, and 

 skimming and squeaking round the precipices. 



As I have regarded these amusive birds with no 

 small attention, if I should advance something new 

 and peculiar with respect to them, and different from 

 all other birds, I might perhaps be credited ; espe- 

 cially as my assertion is the result of many years' 

 exact observation. The fact that I would advance 

 is, that swifts propagate on the wing : and I would 

 wish any nice observer, that is startled at this sup- 

 position, to use his own eyes, and I think he will 

 soon be convinced. In another class of animals, viz. 

 the insect, nothing is so common as to see the differ- 

 ent species of many genera in conjunction as they 

 fly. The swift is almost continually on the wing ; 

 and as it never settles on the ground, on trees, or 

 roofs, would seldom find opportunity for amorous 

 rites, was it not enabled to indulge them in the air. 

 If any person would watch these birds of a fine 

 morning in May, as they are sailing round, at a great 

 height from the ground, he would see, every now 

 and then, one drop on the back of another, and both 

 of them sink down together for many fathoms with a 

 loud piercing shriek. This I take to be the juncture 



when the business of generation is carrying on. 



33 



