SWIFTS 183 



open country, but it is found, as well, in thinly settled regions 

 and even in the mountains. 



First arrivals from the South appear about the last of 

 March, having been noted at Barachias, March 21 ; Autauga- 

 ville, March 28; Woodbine, March 30; Leighton, March 31; 

 and Greensboro, April 4. In fall the last swifts were seen at 

 Autaugaville, October 5; at Leighton and Greensboro, Octo- 

 ber 13 ; and at Piedmont, October 19. Eggs have been found 

 at Barachias, May 18 and 22; at Leighton, June 1; and at 

 Autaugaville, June 20. 



General habits. — The chimney swift is an accomplished 

 flyer and spends the greater part of the daylight hours on the 

 wing, coursing rapidly back and forth, often at a great height, 

 in search of its insect food, uttering constantly sharp, twitter- 

 ing notes. It never alights on the branch of a tree, but only 

 on the inside of a chimney or hollow tree. Swifts are very 

 sociable birds, breed to some extent in small companies, and 

 for several weeks prior to their departure in fall gather into 

 large flocks and roost at night in a body in some large chim- 

 ney or hollow stub. When about to enter a chimney their 

 flight is arrested suddenly and with wings raised high above 

 the body the birds drop perpendicularly into the opening. The 

 noise produced by them as they enter resembles the rumbling 

 of distant thunder. 



Though formerly nesting in large hollow trees, the swift 

 now places its nest in unused chimneys, or rarely on the inside 

 of a barn or in the shaft of a well. The nests are shallow, 

 shaped like a half saucer, constructed of twigs which the birds 

 break from a tree while in flight, glued together and to the 

 side of the chimney by the birds' saliva. No lining is used, 

 and the eggs are laid on the bare twigs. Eggs have beert 

 found at Barachias, May 18 and May 22; at Leighton, June 1 ; 

 and at Autaugaville, June 20. The young remain in the nest 

 about two weeks, and for two weeks longer remain in the 

 chimney clinging to the sides with their feet. 



Food habits. — The food 'of the swift consists of various in- 

 sects which it captures in the air; these include flies, mos- 

 quitoes, winged ants, beetles, bugs, and grasshoppers. 



