194 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



D. Salmon described^ some nests of the Swift 

 which he found at Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, and 

 which were composed of bits of straw and dry 

 grass, " closely interwoven and held firmly to- 

 gether by an adhesive substance very much re- 

 sembling glue, and so disposed round the inner 

 edge of the nest as to hold the straws in their 

 places ; the whole forming quite a cup of an 

 oval shape, of about four inches in length, not 

 very deep." I have often observed the straw 

 and dry grass, with the addition of feathers, but 

 never noticed the " adhesive substance." Gil- 

 bert White thought that the Swift paired on the 

 wing. They may do so occasionally ; but, 

 from what I have observed, I feel sure that 

 they pair much oftener in the hole which has 

 been selected to nest in. 



Although usually preferring lofty towers and 

 church turrets, the Swift frequently nests under 

 eaves at a comparatively short distance from the 

 ground ; and I have had excellent opportuni- 



1 "Mag. Nat. Hist." 1834, vol. vii. p. 462. 



