137 



THE SWIFT. 



Cypselus apus (L.). 



Single birds were recorded in Hampshire on the 19th of 

 April, in Dorsetshire and Shropshire on the 20th, and in 

 Cumberland on the 22nd. An increase was noted in Shrop- 

 shire on the 21st, and on that date four individuals were 

 seen in Glamorgan. By the end of the month the Swift was 

 generally distributed all over the country, even in the 

 northern counties, with the exception of Northumberland, 

 where the jfirst arrivals were not observed until the 3rd of 

 May. The immigration continued throughout May, and 

 a marked increase was noted in Berkshire on the 4th, 

 and in Essex on the 6th ; hundreds were seen passing 

 over Staffordshire on the 13th, and large numbers were 

 recorded in Hertfordshire on the 25th. 



The only Swift reported as having been killed at a light- 

 house was one at St. Catherine's, Isle of Wight, on the 

 night of the 16th/17th of May ; but others were noted 

 passing the Nab light-vessel (Hants) during the daytime on 

 various dates between the 22nd of April and the 6th of May 

 from 9 A.M. to 4 p.m. They were all flying from south to 

 north-east, in small numbers, except on the 5th of May, 

 when flocks were seen all day. 



Swifts were nesting in Sussex on the 5th of May, in 

 Carnarvon on the 16th, and in Berkshire on the 20th, while 

 nests with eggs were round in Radnor on the 22nd of that 

 month. 



