6 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



with the viscid saliva secreted by the bird. The number of eggs is normally two ; 

 tour eggs have been found in one nest, but it has yet to be proved that they were 

 the product of the same hen ; thej^ are somewhat elongated ovals of a dead white 

 colour. Only one brood is reared in a 3'ear. The young are generally hatched 

 in June. 



Swifts have been known to lay in the nest of the House Martin, as recorded 

 by the late Mr. Bond and Mr. G. E. Lodge. The egg figured is from my 

 collection. 



The food of the Swift consists of minute insects caught upon the wing, and 

 when feeding its young it appears to store these up iintil it has secured a good 

 mouthful : it does not seem to follow the practice of most birds which give their 

 young little at a time though at short intervals, but satisfies their cravings with 

 hieavy meals occasionall}', during the day. 



The Swift is incapable of song, but its scream is satisfying ; having heard 

 it, one wants to hear no more. 



In captivity this bird is of no value. In the first place it leaves the nest 

 quite able to earn its own living ; and, when captured, it refuses to be fed. In 

 August, 1 89 1, a young bird in pursuit of flies passed through an open window 

 into ni}- house, and, falling upon a perfectly smooth, and level surface, could only 

 tumble about helplessly. I picked it up and tried to persuade it to eat a blue- 

 bottle fly, but it would not open its mouth ; so I did this myself and inserted the 

 fly, which it allowed to escape. I found, after one or two trials, that the only 

 means by which I could compel it to eat was by opening its mouth wide, putting 

 the food far back and holding its beak shut until, by the convulsive movement in 

 its throat, I knew it had swallowed. The bird was insufferably stupid ; and when 

 I compelled it to fly in a room, it fluttered slowly round, striking the first piece 

 of furniture which came in its waj^ and falling to the ground, where it dragged 

 itself about slowl}^, but was utterly unable to rise. Hancock's and Naumann's 

 experiences were not mine ; struggle as it might, the Swift could not lift itself 

 from oilcloth or carpet ; nor, when fljdng, did it make for the window. It died 

 on the third day. 



