CYPSELID^. 105 



Order PICARIiE. 



Suborder CYPSELI. 

 Family CYPSELID^. 



THE SWIFTS. 



The Swifts are now removed from their old position 

 among the Hirundines, and are included among the Picaricie. 

 AVe have only one of them, the well-known Common Swift, 

 which is a generally dispersed summer visitor in this 

 country, while another fine South-European Swift, the 

 Alpine Swift, has as yet been but once detected as a 

 chance straggler in the north of the county. We have 

 already dwelt at length upon the Swift when we were 

 engaged with the Swallows, as from old associations we are 

 still led to couple the Swift with its familiar companions. 



There is this to be said in favour of separating the Swifts 

 from the Swallows, namely, that the pure white eggs of 

 the former are very dissimilar in shape to those of the 

 latter, and are only two in number, agreeing in these 

 respects, as well as in others, with the Humming-birds, 

 to w^hich some ornithologists consider the Swifts to be 

 allied. 



Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.). 



[Devil's Screecher, Skcer Devil (slceer, to move along swiftly and 

 slightly touching).] 



A summer migrant, usually very numerous throughout the county. 

 Breeds. 



Arrives at the end of April or hcginning of May, and leaves al)out tho 

 second week in August. This year(18i)I) two were seen near Kingsl)ridgo 

 on April 2(jlh, but the earliest arrival noted by. us was ou April iJTtti, 



