304 BRITISH BIRDS. 



weather prevented my seeing them. In the courSfe of a week, however^ 

 I had the gratification of seeing one so near that the white throat, the 

 white under the tail, as well as the pale patch on the back, were plainly 

 visible. I noticed then that it sought its food indiscriminately amongst 

 the Swifts, Swallows, and Martins, and was not particular about confining 

 itself to one stratum of atmosphere as the other species did ; for it is well 

 known that if Swifts and other species are feeding at the same time, they 

 seldom mingle with each other or occupy the same height in the air. I also 

 observed that the bird in question often had a sort of poising flight, 

 reminding one of the Nightjar, but at other times it had an equal, if not 

 superior, dash of wing to the Common Swift; and I could well understand 

 this when, a few days later, I held in my hand what I have every reason 

 to believe was one of the two birds I had seen ; for its length of wing, 

 coupled with its superior weight, would give it such an impetus as I have 

 described.^' 



The Needle-tailed Swift breeds in South-east Siberia, East Mongolia, 

 Japan, North China, East Tibet, and the Eastern Himalayas ; it passes 

 through South China, and probably New Guinea^ on migration, and 

 winters in East Australia and Tasmania. David and Oustalet state that 

 this species is found in Kamtschatka, but I am unable to find any autho- 

 rity for this locality; Schrenck and Radde found it on the Amoor; 

 Dybowsky records it from Lake Baikal ; and my Siberian collector has 

 sent me several specimens from Ki-asnoyarsk, which appears to be the 

 most westerly limit of its breeding-range in Siberia. 



Comparatively little ' is known of the habits of this charming and 

 interesting bird. It is said to arrive at its breeding-quarters about the 

 end of April or the first half of May. On migration the Needle-tailed 

 Swift does not appear to fly ia compact flocks, but in a scattered party, 

 keeping close to the ground, and at these periods is often seen in company 

 with other Swifts. It leaves for the south agaiu early in autumn, mostly 

 going in August ; but a few still linger into September after the great bulk 

 have departed, as is the case with our own Swift. Prjevalsky saw this 

 bird on autumn migration in Mongolia in such numbers that they were 

 passing overhead for a whole day in one almost incessant stream. The 

 haunts chosen by this singular bird are amongst the mountains, on forest- 

 clad hills, deep ravines, and passes ; but as it possesses such enormous 

 powers of flight, it may frequently be seen on the plains, on a visit from 

 its rocky home far above them. It is also very probable that the bird in 

 many cases only haunts the rocks for breeding purposes, and havpks for 

 its prey over the wooded low-lying country. It is often seen in small 

 parties busily skimming about in searcli of food, sometimes quite low, 

 and at others at an immense height, according to the whereabouts of the 

 insects on which it feeds. 



