THE COMMON SWIFT. 413 



sistent with the most perfect order, but in the autumn of 1830 

 they were all repaired and roughcast, the swift's eyrie being care- 

 fully protected from the hands of the renovator : the species has 

 not, however, since tenanted the place. 



Swifts generally keep at such an altitude, that the vicinity of 

 water is not enlivened by their presence as it is by that of some 

 of the Hirundines, yet they may occasionally be seen flying over 

 Belfast bay (particularly about the time of high-water), as well as 

 skimming the surface of ponds and rivers. 



In and since 1842, 1 have remarked, that the borders of the bay 

 are very frequently visited by great numbers of swifts, during the 

 period of their stay, although they have no contiguous breeding- 

 places. Their favourite haunt on the Down side is about Rich- 

 mond Lodge, where trees — backed at some little distance by a 

 high terraced bank — bound one side of the road ; between which, 

 and the sea, at the opposite side, is a narrow belt of pasture, 

 perhaps 300 yards in breadth. They are often as numerous here 

 as swallows about an advantageous locality; — 150 to 200 being 

 seen together. During the last few years when swallows were so 

 scarce, their place here has been entirely monopolized by swifts. 

 These birds visit the opposite side of the bay about Tort William, 

 &c, in similar numbers, and seem to be particularly fond of feed- 

 ing above pasture-fields. I have no doubt that these large bodies 

 move about as flocks to feed in company. Indeed, that such is 

 the swift's habit may be inferred from the circumstance, of my 

 having observed numbers feeding about the mountain-tops on one 

 or two successive evenings, where on the following, though similar 

 as to weather, not an individual would be seen. Over the town of 

 Belfast, they were more numerous in 1842 than I had before 

 known : — about forty individuals would occasionally appear career- 

 ing together. 



Swifts have continued very numerous to this year, 1848, inclusive, 

 and often frequent in great numbers the Richmond Lodge " beat." 

 Here, on the 12th of July, 1846, I considered there might be 150, 

 while above the road at Westbrook, less than a mile distant, simi- 

 larly open to the bay at one side and bounded by trees on the 



