THE COMMON SWIFT. 415 



here, when skimming merely above the top of the heath. Towards 

 evening, — often about an hour before retiring to roost, — they 

 return from these comparatively distant nights, and are then seen 

 near their accustomed haunts for some time previous to retiring 

 for the night, having thus led persons to believe that the evening 

 is one of their favourite times for stirring out. Swifts may like- 

 wise be occasionally seen on wing in the vicinity of their nests 

 throughout the very finest weather. The remark that the swift 

 "in high windy days, will remain for hoars in its retreat, motion- 

 less, and in the dark," * I consider equally erroneous with that just 

 commented on. At such times, and during storms, as I have 

 frequently observed, they wander abroad to feed in congregated 

 numbers ; on account of their prey then keeping low, they are 

 generally to be seen in sheltered localities. 



The following note was made on swifts as observed at Dunluce 

 Castle, near the Giants' Causeway. On the 12th of June, 1842, 

 I was attracted by, and remained for some time watching, a number 

 of these birds, which, although the day was beautifully bright and 

 warm, kept flying low, within a very few yards of my head. They 

 occasionally, I thought, — but could not be certain, owing to the 

 rapidity of their flight and the presence of house-martins, — 

 uttered a short pleasing note, lower than that of the Alpine swift ; 

 but their loud shrill cry was stilled. The last place I had paused 

 to observe Cypseli was in the island of Sphacteria, where the C. 

 melha was the attraction, consequently the C. murarius was to- 

 day brought into direct comparison with that species, on which 

 remarks will elsewhere be found. It was highly interesting to 

 witness their motions as they flew noiselessly — with the occasional 

 exceptions already noticed — a few yards above my head. The 

 tail would at one moment be drawn to a point, the next, appear 

 square at the end ; would then present a " tender fork," and the 

 next instant, its full furcation : again, it would be expanded to 

 the uttermost, with the feathers simply touching at their margins, 

 and the whole tail appearing so membranous that the light shone 



* Yarrell, B. B. vol.ii. p. 262. 2nd edit. 



