70 



Tliej are occasionally seen nearer Marlborough, but not 

 -often. 



On Martinsell, I have, during some years, noticed an 

 abundance, so man}^ in fact that I am inclined to think that 

 they must breed somewhere near, but have been unable to 

 find the place. 



LOCAL NAMES. 



Screech 

 Screech Devil 

 Screech Mai'tin 

 Screamer 



EGG OBSERVED. 



June 9th, 1865. 

 May 9th, 1866. 

 June 15th, 1869. 



Cypselus apus. 



Sivlft. 



FIRST SEEN. 



April 27th, 1865. 



April 25th, 1866. 



April 13th, 1867. 



April 22nd, 1868. 



April 24th, 1869. 

 1870. 

 The Swift visits us towards the end of April in tolerable 

 ^abundance, always making itself heard by its loud harsh 

 scream, which has procured for it so many names. 



The common name of this bird indicates the " swiftness" 

 of its flight, which would seem to make the following 

 anecdote almost incredible. The hens in a certain poultry 

 yard not far from Oxford always shewed a great dislike to 

 the Swifts, which are particularly abundant there. In one 

 instance, in June 1869, an old game hen with a fine 

 brood of chickens suddenly made a dart at a Swift which 

 was flying low and near the ground. The hen had to pass 

 across a considerable distance before reachino* the Swift. 



