SWIFTS — SCANDAROONS. 



197 



Swifts are named from the great resemblance of their long 

 flights and tails to the Martin and Swallow tribe of birds. 

 They are bred in Egypt and India. The head is short and 

 round, eye light yellow or orange, the cere flesh-colour. The 

 legs are short in comparison, the characteristic of the breed 



being its extreme length of body and feather. All the feathers 

 are, in fact, much longer than usual, and, unless the birds are 

 in first-rate condition, soft and loose. Owing to this they are 

 very bad flyers, the wings having no strength. Mr. Ludlow 

 says that a bird he had measured .32,1- inches from tip to tip of 

 the wings. He gives them the character of being hardy. 



Scandarooiis are one of the most typical breeds known, and 

 are believed to come from Persia. The main points are in the 

 head. It is narrow from side to side, and very arched or Roman- 

 nosed, the beak itself being considerably curved. The eye, 

 which is orange, is surroimded by a considerable quantity of 



