BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 77 



of having seen the first bird during the first week in February, and 

 the last right at the latter end of April. So far as my observations 

 for Launceston are concerned, which have extended over a number 

 of years, the bird has always come from over the south to south- 

 eastern horizon and disappeared north to north-west. The times 

 of appearance vary from noon to dusk; the majority, however, 

 have been well on in the afternoon. Prior to a storm seems to be 

 a favourite time for putting in an appearance. A calm evening with 

 a clear atmosphere is also a favourite condition for this Swift. The 

 style of flight varies from a projectile-like speed with a swish, 

 swish of wings, now dashing close to the earth, now soaring high 

 in the air, to a slow circular flight very high in the sky. The 

 number appearing at one time varies from a few individuals to 

 a few hundreds. I am informed that occasionally in the mid- 

 land districts a flock numbering thousands may be seen streaming 

 northwards. The problem of where they come from is one I am 

 afraid will never be solved. We know where they breed, but 

 where did those many hundreds of birds come from that I and 

 others have seen appearing over the southern horizon and disappear- 

 ing over the northern? There are but few absolutely authentic 

 records of this Swift having been seen perching. Mr. G. E. 

 Shepherd (Emu, vol. ii., p. 31) mentions having seen a Spine-tailed 

 Swift circling round a tall eucalypt just at dusk one evening. The 

 bird dashed into a clump of thick leaves near the top, and although 

 Mr. Shepherd stayed round for a quarter of an hour he did not 

 see the bird come out. It is quite possible, however, the bird 

 slipped out on the side where Mr. Shepherd was not looking. 



The following extract from the "Nature Notes" in a recent 

 Acgus may not be without some interest : 



' ' That Swifts perch and pitch more frequently than 

 was supposed is shown by the notes of observers. Mr. 

 J. Harrison (Maldon) says that Mr. Campbell, a resident 

 of the New England district, New South Wales, saw them 

 on the Macleay Eiver perching in considerable numbers on the 

 cliffs of Wellington's Lookout. Mr. Arthur Scott, Omeo, remem- 

 bers seeing Swifts pitch upon the ground between Cape Clear and 

 Western Creek, in the Ballarat district, 35 years ago. They 

 appeared to be picking up sand or grit. 



"Miss M. Anderson, Eomsey, mentions a curious experience: 

 -' Some years ago, on a stormy November morning, with rain just 

 beginning to fall, I heard a babel of strange bird cries, and went 

 out to see what caused it. I found the air thick with Swifts, 

 which were literally hurling themselves on to the trunk and large 

 bare limbs of an old gum-tree in the yard. They clapped them- 

 selves perfectly flat against the bark, touching one another, and 

 covering the tree-trunk almost from the ground to top. The tree 

 is over 100 feet high, so it can be imagined how numerous the birds 

 were. A curious circumstance was that they only clung on to the 



