Ii6 Handbook of Nature-Study 



disappeared, this is a pity since they are beneficial birds, feeding upon 

 insects which are injarious to our farms and gardens. They are 

 also delightful birds to have around, and we may possibly induce them to 

 come back to us by building houses for them and driving away the 

 sparrows. 



The Chimney Swift 



I HEN the old-fashioned fire-places went out of use 

 and were walled up, leaving the great old chimneys 

 useless, these sociable birds took possession of 

 them. Here they built their nests and reared their 

 young, and twittered and scrambled about, 

 awakening all sleepers in the neighborhood at 

 earliest dawn, and in many ways made themselves 

 a distinct part of family life. With the disap- 

 pearance of. these old chimneys and the growing use of the smaller 

 chimney, the swifts have been more or less driven from their close 

 association with people; and now their nests are often found in hay 

 barns or other secluded buildings, although they still gather in chim- 

 neys when opportunity offers. 



The chimney swifts originally built nests in hollow trees and caves; 

 but with the coming of civilization they took possession of the chimneys 

 disused during the summer, and here is where we know them best. The 

 nests are shaped like little wall pockets; they are made of small sticks of 

 nearly uniform size which are glued together and glued fast to the chim- 

 ney wall by means of the saliva secreted in the mouth of the bird. After 

 the nesting season, the swifts often gather in great flocks and live together 

 in some large chimney; toward night-fall they may be seen circling about 

 in great numbers and dropping into the mouth of the chimney, one by 

 one, as if they were being poured into a funnel. In the morning they 

 leave in reverse manner, each swift flying about in widening circles as it 

 leaves the chimney. The swifts are never seen to alight anywhere except 

 in hollow trees or chimneys or similar places; their tiny feet have sharp 

 claws for clinging to the slightest roughness of the upright wall; the tail 

 acts as a prop, each tail feather ending in a spine which is pressed against 

 the chimney side when the bird alights and thus enables it to cling more 

 firmly. In this fashion the swifts roost, practically hung up against a 

 wall. 



The swift has a short beak and wide mouth which it opens broadly to 

 engulf insects as it darts through the air. Chimney swifts have been 

 known to travel at the rate of no miles an hour. 



This bird should never be confused with the swallows, for when flying, 

 its tail seems simply a sharp point, making the whole body cigar-shaped. 

 This character alone distinguishes it from the long tailed swallows. In 

 color it is sooty brown, with a gray throat and breast; the wings are long 

 and narrow and apparently curved. The manner of flight and appear- 

 ance in the air make it resemble the bat more than it does the swallow. 



