135 



THE SWIFT. 



Cypselus apus (L.). 



The Swift arrived along the whole o£ the south coast. The 

 first record of the species came from Devonshire on the 23rd 

 of April, and during the remainder of the month stragglers 

 were reported from various counties as far north as West- 

 moreland, where a single bird was observed on the 26th. 

 Towards the end of the first week in May greater numbers 

 began to arrive, and the increase continued until about the 

 third week in that month. The migratory movement then 

 became less marked until the 1st of June^ when a final large 

 immigration was noted in Devonshire. Apparently these 

 birds passed northwards immediately, as a decrease was 

 recorded on the following day. 



A flock of about a hundred was observed in Somersetshire 

 on the 23rd of June, but there was no information to show 

 whether they were on passage, and, if so, in what direction 

 they were flying. 



There were only two records of this species from the lights, 

 viz. : from the Nab light-vessel (Hampshire), where several 

 were seen flying from south to north at noon on the 9th of 

 May ; and from the Smalls light (Pembroke), where several 

 were noted on the night of the 19th/20th. 



Chronological Summary of the Records. 



April 23rd. Devon. 

 24th. Surrey. 

 „ 25th. Cornwall, Dorset, Hants, Shropshire, 



Cheshire. 

 „ 26th. Brecon, Montgomery, Yorkshire, West- 



moreland. 



