TEE SWIFT. Ill 



Andamans and Nicobars, though he wilfully refuses 

 to be civihzed aud inhabit; houses ; which is the 

 more vexatious as a near relative of his (CollocaKa 

 linchi), who builds a nest so adulterated Tvith moss 

 as to be quite worthless, has taken freely to buildings 

 at Port Blair, and can be studied there readily. 

 Perhaps transposing the eggs of the two species 

 might persuade the first class bird not to waste his 

 sweetness on the desert rocks, and they breed at the 

 same time ; so valuable a product ought to be worth 

 a little trouble ia its cultivation. As for our humble 

 companion here, he is to be tolerated if not loved ; 

 it is difficult to get up much interest in Swifts, which 

 have never enjoyed the popularity of swallows ; 

 but think of what we might have to put up with in 

 the way of insects if he were not here to make at 

 least some impression on their numbers ! For Swifts, 

 as every one probably knows, hve on small winged 

 insects, and of all the places in which I have ever 

 lived, Calcutta is facile 'primceps in the production 

 of such amenities of existence. 



