CHIMNEY SWIFT, OR CHIMNEY SWALLOW 



Male and female a sooty-gray; wings an inch and a half 

 longer than the tail; the quills of the tail extend beyond the 

 web, forming spikes. Length, five and one-half inches. 



Nest, bracket-shape, made of twigs fastened together with 

 bird-glue and attached to the walls of a chimney or hollow tree. 

 Eggs, white, four to six, .80 x .50 inches. 



The natural homes of these birds were hollow trees and 

 caves, but they are now seldom found in the latter. As our 

 country became settled, they changed tljeir habits and made 

 their nests in unused chimneys. They live in colonies of great 

 size often numbering several hundred. At early dawn they are 

 on the wing pouring out of their sooty homes in streams. The 

 day is spent in flying about and in gathering food which con- 

 sists entirely of moths and other winged insects. Their flight 

 is wonderfully swift and prolonged. 



As darkness approaches they return in flocks, circling high 

 above the chimney top and all moving in the same direction, 

 but constantly nearing the opening. Evfery few minutes those 

 in the lead drop out of sight and in a short time the whole com- 

 pany has settled to rest for the night. A glance at the interior 

 of the chimney shows the birds clinging to the sides and braced 

 with their spiny tails like Woodpeckers. 



The name "Swallow" has been given to these birds because 

 they feed while flying like the Swallows; but they are true 

 Swifts not Swallows. They have no song and only utter a 

 sharp tsip, tsip, tsip rapidly repeated. They are said to fly a 

 thousand miles in twenty-four hours, hence the length of their 

 migratory journey is of little consequence to them. They 



104 



