270 THE SWIFT. 
selves greatly inconvenienced when seeking admission into their domiciles, 
but for the shape of the feet, which enables them to cling to the slightest 
projection, and to clamber up a perpendicular surface with perfect ease and 
safety. 
DEvorD of all pretensions to the brilliantly-tinted plumage which decorates 
so many of its relations, and clad only in sober black and grey, the common 
SwIFT is, nevertheless, one of the most pleasing and interesting of the 
British birds ; resting its claims to favourable notice upon its graceful form 
and its unrivalled powers of wing. ; 
There are very few birds which are so essentially inhabitants of the air as our 
common Swift, which cuts the atmosphere with its sabre-like wings with such 
marvellous ease and rapidity that at times its form is hardly discernible as it 
shoots along, and it leaves the impression of a dark black streak upon the 
eyes of the observer. The plumage of this bird is constructed especially 
with a view to securing great speed, as may be seen by an inspection of the 
closely-set and firmly-webbed feathers with which the entire body and limbs 
are clad. The muscles which move the wings are enormously developed, 
and in consequencé the breast-bone is furnished with a remarkably strong 
and deer “ keel.” 
The fight of the Swift is quite peculiar to the bird, and cannot be mistaken 
even fo: that of the swallow by any one who has a practical acquaintance with 
the habits of the two species. The Swift does not flap its wings so often as 
the swallow, and has a curious mode of shooting through the air as if hurled 
from some invisible bow, and guiding itself in its headlong course by means 
of its wings and tail. 
This indefatigable bird is an early riser, and very late in returning to rest, 
later indeed than any of the diurnal birds. Though engaged in flight during 
the live-long day, the Swift appears to be proof against fatigue, and will, 
during the long summer days, remain upon the wing until after nine in the 
evening. As the days become shorter, the Swift is found to retire earlier, 
but during its st.y in this country it is almost invariably later than other 
birds, sometimes being on the wing together with the owl. Indeed, the air 
seems to the Swift even a more familiar element than the earth, and the bird 
is able to pass the whole of its life, and to perform all the bodily functions 
except those of sleep, while upborne on the untiring pinions with which it is 
furnished. The Swift that has a nest to take care of is forced to descend at 
intervals for the purpose of supplying its family with food, but except when 
urged by such considerations, it is able to remain in the air for many succes- 
sive hours without needing to rest. 
The Swifts may generally be found near buildings, rocks, and cliffs, for in 
such localities they build their nest, and from their home they seldon 
wander to any great distance, as long as they remain in the country. 
In general, the Swift loves to build its nest in a hole under a roof, 
whether slated, tiled, or thatched, preferring, however, the warm, thick straw- 
thatch to the tile or slate. Sometimes it makes a hole in the thatch, through 
which it gaitis access to the nest, but in most instances it makes use of some 
already existing crevice for that purpose. In all cases the nest is placed 
above the entrance, and generally may be found about eighteen inches or two 
feet from the orifice. Even by the touch, the eggs of the Swift may be dis- 
cerned from those of any other bird, as their length is singularly dispropor- 
tionate to their width. 
The sound which these birds utter is of the most piercing description, and 
can be heard at a very great distance, thus betraying them when they are 
hawking after the high-flying insects at such an altitude that their forms are 
hardly perceptible to the unassisted eye. 
