OF SELBOENE. 203 



in this village some pairs frequent the lowest and meanest 

 cottages, and educate their young under those thatched 

 roofs. We remember but one instance where they breed 

 out of buildings ; and that is in the sides of a deep chalk-pit 

 near the town of Odiham, in this county, where we 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, especially as my assertion is the 

 result of many years' exact observation. The fact that I 

 would advance is, that swifts pair on the wing ; and I would 

 wish any nice observer, that is startled at this supposition, 

 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 different species of many genera pair- 

 ing 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 pairing, except in the 

 air. If any person would watch these birds of a fine morn- 

 ing in May, as they are sailing round at a great height from 

 the ground, he would see, every now and then, two meet, 

 and both of them sink down together for many fathoms 

 with a loud piercing shriek. 



As the swift eats, drinks, collects materials for its nest, 

 and, as it seems, propagates on the wing, it appears to live 

 more in the air than any other bird, and to perform all 

 functions there save those of sleeping and incubation. 



This Hirundo differs widely from its congeners in laying 

 invariably but two eggs at a time, 1 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 



1 We have occasionally found three eggs in a nest, and these were 

 taken from under the eaves of some old cottages in TVest Sussex. ED. 



