8 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND Eaas. 
The Alpine Swift chiefly frequents mountains, craggy ravines, and frowning 
cliffs. I first saw it near the top of the Weissenstein, near Soleure, in Switzerland 
in 1867, and a week or two later when crossing the Gemmi Pass; the birds in 
the first instance numbered about a score, and they frequently wheeled so near to 
Hewitson and myself that their enormous stretch of wing could be clearly noted; 
at that time, unfortunately, I had not commenced to take a very deep interest in 
bird-life; so that, with the exception of this species and a few of the more 
prominent Accipitres, I paid but little attention to my present favourites; happily 
for me old Hewitson was an enthusiast and loved birds quite as dearly as he did 
butterflies, and possibly his delight in pointing out his feathered friends to me 
may first have awakened in my mind the desire to know more about them. 
The nest of the Alpine Swift is usually placed in crevices of rocks, or in holes 
in cathedral or church towers, or any other building suited to the purpose; when 
placed in holes in cliffs or mountains it is usually quite inaccessible; it is a flattish 
structure composed of straws, dry or green grass, fir-bark, bits of paper, and 
feathers. The eggs are two in number* pure dead white, having little or no 
gloss. 
The young are nourished in the same manner as with the Common Swift, 
and, although occasionally fed upon the wing by their parents, are able to provide 
for themselves when they leave the nest. It is curious to notice what a difference 
there is in various species of birds in this respect: the N. American Mocking- 
bird is said to leave the nest before it is even able to fly, and this appears to be 
frequently the case with the Nightingale; on the other hand the Java Sparrow, 
although it expects to be fed for about eight days after it leaves the nest, may 
be seen pecking away on its own account on the day of its flight: this is also 
frequently the case with the little Zebra-finch. 
Although not a large bird, the wings of the Alpine Swift have an expanse 
from tip to tip of at least twenty inches; it is therefore not surprising that its 
flight is inconceivably rapid. At times it flies at an enormous height, but 
frequently at no great distance from the ground: in its aerial movements it 
resembles the common species. 
Jerdon says of the Alpine Swift:—‘ This fine Swift is not rare in the south 
of India, all along the range of Western Ghats from Honore to Cape Comorin, 
extending its daily flights often to the western sea-coast, and occasionally eastwards 
to Salem, Madura, and Madras even. At times they are very abundant on the 
Neilgherries, and, during the cold weather, may very generally be seen on the 
Malabar Coast. I saw, on several occasions, large flocks of them flying eastward 
* As many as four have been found in one nest, but these were probably the produce of two females. 
