330 CHIMNEY SWALLOW. 



ney wall, by means of its saliva, arranging them in a semicircular form, 

 crossing and interweaving them, so as to extend the framework outwards. 

 The whole is afterwards glued together with saliva, which is spread around 

 it for an inch or more, to fasten it securely. When the nest is in a chim- 

 ney, it is generally placed on the east side, and is from five to eight feet 

 from the entrance ; but in the hollow of a tree, where only they breed in 

 communities, it is placed high or low according to convenience. The 

 fabric, which is very frail, now and then gives way, either under the 

 pressure of the parents and young, or during sudden bursts of heavy 

 rain, when the whole is dashed to the ground. The eggs are from four 

 to six, and of a pure white colour. Two broods are raised in the season. 



The flio-ht of this species is performed somewhat in the manner of the 

 European Swift, but in a more hurried although continued style, and ge- 

 nerally by repeated flappings, unless when courtship is going on, on which 

 occasion it is frequently seen sailing with its wings fixed as it were, both 

 sexes as they glide through the air issuing a shrill rattling twitter, and 

 the female receiving the caresses of the male. At other times it is seen 

 ranf^ino- far and wide at a considerable elevation over the forests and cities ; 

 again, in wet weather, it flies close over the ground ; and anon it skims 

 the water, to drink and bathe. When about to descend into a hollow 

 tree or a chimney, its flight, always rapid, is suddenly interrupted as if 

 by mao-ic, for down it goes in an instant, whirling in a peculiar manner, 

 and whirring with its wings, so as to produce a sound in the chimney 

 like the rumbling of very distant thunder. They never alight on trees 

 or on the ground. If one is caught and placed on the latter, it can only 

 move in a very awkward fashion. I believe that the old birds sometimes 

 fly at nio-ht, and have reason to think that the young are fed at such times, 

 as I have heard the whirring sound of the former, and the acknowledging 

 cries of the latter, during calm and clear nights. 



When the young accidentally fall, which sometimes happens, although 

 the nest should remain, they scramble up again, by means of their sharp 

 claws, lifting one foot after another, in the manner of young Wood Ducks, 

 and supporting themselves with their tail. Some days before the young 

 are able to fly, they scramble up the walls to near the mouth of the chim- 

 ney where they are fed. Any observer may discover this, as he sees the 

 parents passing close over them, without entering the funnel. The same 

 occurrence takes place when they are bred in a tree. 



In the cities, these birds make choice of a particular chimney for their 



