Swifts usually nest in chimneys, a fact 

 which well illustrates how readily birds 

 will change their habits when the con- 

 ditions presented are more favorable. 

 In the chimney they are free from the 

 enemies which annoy them when they 

 are nesting in trees. In the unsettled 

 and wilder portions of the country, 

 they ari still known to nest in hollow 

 trees. The nests are bracketlike struc- 

 tures ( f twigs which are fastened to- 

 gether and to the supporting wall by 

 an adhesive secretion of the birds' sali- 

 vary glands. These glands become 

 much smaller after the breeding season 

 is completed. The cement-like secre- 

 tion hardens into a very firm substance 

 which not only securely holds the twigs 

 together but also, as firmly attaches the 

 nest to its support. It is said that 

 in separating the nests from the sides 

 of chimneys, sometimes the bricks will 

 break before the cement will yield. 



Few birds bear a more appropriate 

 common name than the one we illus- 

 trate. The word Chimney is appro- 

 priate because of their nesting and 

 roosting habits, and anyone who has 



observed their flight will agree that the 

 word Swift is a most satisfactory name. 

 So rapid and powerful is the flight at 

 times, that it is not surpassed if even 

 equalled by any other birds. It is said 

 that the Swifts may fly a thousand 

 miles in a single full day. They rest 

 only in their lodging places, to which 

 places they do not seem anxious to 

 retire even when darkness approaches. 

 While resting, they do not perch but 

 cling with their claws to the walls 

 and are partly supported by their tails. 

 While the Swifts sometimes fly quite 

 late at night, they are really crepuscu- 

 lar rather than nocturnal in their habits. 

 In dull and cloudy weather they may 

 hunt their insect prey, which is al- 

 ways captured while flying, throughout 

 the whole day. During brighter days, 

 however, they chiefly hunt during the 

 early morning and late in the after- 

 noon. It is true that ''few sights in 

 the bird-world are more familiar than 

 the bow-and-arrow-like forms of these 

 rapidly flying birds silhoueted against 

 the sky." 



SWEET LITTLE FLOWER, 



Sweet little flower! so fair, so frail. 

 How cans't thou bear the ruthless gale? 

 Surely some power must bid it spare 

 So sweet a flower, so frail, so fair. 



The earth is happier for thee. 

 And yet what chance if any see ! 

 The air is sweeter for thy breath, 

 But who will know or heed thy death? 



If thou wert human, little flower, 

 Thou'd pine and perish in an hout. 

 Instead of blooming, day by day, 

 Contented by the lonely way. 



O heart of mine, though full with pain, 

 What reason hast thou to complain? 

 When thou wouldst murnuu" at thy lot, 

 Remember the Forget-me-not. 



— George W. PniLLirs, 



Jr. 



108 



