As the swift eats, drinks, collects materials for its 

 nest, and, as it seems, propagates on the wing, it ap- 

 pears to live more in the air than any other bird, and 

 to perform all functions there save those of sleeping 

 and incubation. 



This hirimdo differs widely from its congeners in 

 laying invariably but two eggs at a time, which are 

 milk-white, long, and peaked at the small end ; 

 whereas the other species lay at each brood from 

 four to six. It is a most alert bird, rising very early 

 and retiring to roost very late ; and is on the wing 

 in the height of summer at least sixteen hours. In 

 the longest days it does not withdraw to rest till a 

 quarter before nine in the evening, being the latest 

 of all day birds. Just before they retire whole 

 groups of them assemble high in the air, and squeak, 

 and shoot about with wonderful rapidity. But this 

 bird is never so much alive as in sultry thundery 

 weather, when it expresses great alacrity, and calls 

 forth all its powers. In hot mornings, several, get- 

 ting together in little parties, dash round the steeples 

 and churches, squeaking as they go in a very clam- 

 orous manner : these, by nice observers, are sup- 

 posed to be males serenading their sitting hens ; and 

 not without reason, since they seldom squeak till 

 they come close to the walls or eaves, and since 

 those within utter at the same time a little inward 

 note of complacency. 



When the hen has sat hard all day, she rushes 



34 



