750 Mr. II. S. Dove on the Relation of the 



Swifts the weather was fine and summer-like^ and on the lOtli 

 and 11th of Decemher more companies arrived, apparently 

 from the same direction; some flew within a few yards of the 

 ground, passing us with a great '^ swish '^ of their powerful 

 wings. In a few days the weather changed from calm and 

 summer-like to rough and Avind}^, Avith heavy showers, while 

 during the week following, i. e. Dec. 18th and onwards, we 

 had terrific squalls from the westward. Totvards the end 

 of the same month of December two companies of this 

 species were noted before and after stormy weather. 



On January 6th, 1911, a party of the same Swifts was 

 observed in the midst of a thunderstorm flying towards the 

 north-east, the wind at the time being north-west. 



On February 1st, 1911, while proceeding Ity launch up the 

 Tambio River, East Gippsland, we noticed many of these 

 Swifts flying backwards and forwards over the river, some at 

 a low elevation ; the day was sunny and extremely warm, 

 with a light easterly breeze. Two days afterwards the sky 

 became overcast and we had a gale from the eastward. 



8th February, — Large numbers of the Spine-tails were seen 

 high in the air, early in the morning, in fine weather. Tlie 

 next day broke fine, but rain came on during the morning and 

 continued until noon, while on Feb. 10th heavy squalls of 

 wind and rain passed over South-eastern Victoria. 



TVest Devonport, Tasmania. 



]\Iarch 11th, 191 1. — Numbers of the Swifts appeared on the 

 8th, 9th, and 10th of this month during disturbed thundery 

 weather with rain, and during part of the time a high 

 south-east wind. There were gi-eat floods again in Victoria 

 and in parts of this island. 



INIarch 20th. — The birds again appeared yesterday, when 

 there was rain almost the whole day. They passed in a 

 leisurely way from west to cast near the sea and at a con- 

 siderable elevation. 



ISIarch 23rd. — Swifts again seen coursing about ; soon 

 afterwards rough weather set in. 



