8 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



The Alpine Swift chiefly frequents mountains, craggy ravines, and frowning 

 cliflTs. I first saw it near the top of the Weissenstein, near Soleure, in Switzerland 

 in 1867, and a week or two later when crossing the Gemmi Pass ; the birds in 

 the first instance numbered about a score, and they frequentl}' wheeled so near to 

 Hewitson and myself that their enormous stretch of wing could be clearly noted ; 

 at that time, unfortunatel}', I had not commenced to take a very deep interest in 

 bird-life ; so that, with the exception of this species and a few of the more 

 prominent Accipibxs, I paid but little attention to my present favourites ; happily 

 for me old Hewitson was an enthusiast and loved birds quite as dearly as he did 

 butterflies, and possibly his delight in pointing out his feathered friends to me 

 may first have awakened in my mind the desire to know more about them. 



The nest of the Alpine Swift is usually placed in crevices of rocks, or in holes 

 in cathedral or church towers, or any other building suited to the purpose ; when 

 placed in holes in cliffs or mountains it is usually quite inaccessible ; it is a flattish 

 structure composed of straws, dry or green grass, fir-bark, bits of paper, and 

 feathers. The eggs are two in number* pure dead white, having little or no 

 gloss. 



The young are nourished in the same manner as with the Common Swift, 

 and, although occasionall}' fed upon the wing by their parents, are able to provide 

 for themselves when the}^ leave the nest. It is curious to notice what a difference 

 there is in various species of birds in this respect : the N. American Mocking- 

 bird is said to leave the nest before it is even able to fly, and this appears to be 

 frequently the case with the Nightingale ; on the other hand the Java Sparrow, 

 although it expects to be fed for about eight days after it leaves the nest, may 

 be seen pecking awaj^ on its own account on the day of its flight : this is also 

 frequently the case with the little Zebra-finch. 



Although not a large bird, the wings of the Alpine Swift have an expanse 

 from tip to tip of at least twenty inches ; it is therefore not surprising that its 

 flight is inconceivably rapid. At times it flies at an enormous height, but 

 frequently at no great distance from the ground : in its aerial movements it 

 resembles the common species. 



Jerdon says of the Alpine Swift: — "This fine Swift is not rare in the south 

 of India, all along the range of Western Ghats from Honore to Cape Comorin, 

 extending its dail}^ flights often to the western sea-coast, and occasionally eastwards 

 to Salem, Madura, and Madras even. At times they are very abundant on the 

 Neilgherries, and, during the cold weather, may very generally be seen on the 

 Malabar Coast. I saw, on several occasions, large flocks of them flying eastward 



* As many as four have been found in one nest, but these were probably the produce of two females. 



