Crass Il. SViW). HA ®, 
except the fmall time it takes in fleeping, and 
what it devotes to incubation, every other action 
is done on wing. The materials of its neft it col- 
lets either as they are carried about by the winds, 
or picks them up from the furface in its fweeping 
flight. Its food is undeniably the infects that fill 
the air. Its drink is taken in tranfient fips from 
the water’s furface. Even its amorous rites are 
performed on high. Few perfons who have at- 
tended to them in a fine fummer’s morning, but 
muft have feen them make their aerial courfes at 
a great height, encircling acertain {pace with an ea- 
fy fteady motion. On a fudden they fall into each 
other’s embraces, then drop ‘precipitate with a 
loud fhriek for numbers of yards. This is the criti- 
cal conjuncture, and to be no more wondered at, 
than that infeéts (a familiar inftance) fhould dif. 
charge the fame duty in the fame element. 
Thefe birds and {wallows are inveterate enemies 
to hawks. The moment one appears, they attack 
him immediately: the fwifts foon defift; but the 
fwallows purfue and perfecute thofe rapacious 
birds, till they have entirely driven them away. 
Swifts delight in fultry thundry weather, and 
feem thence to receive frefh fpirits. They fly in 
thofe times in {mail parties with particular vio.ence; 
and as they pafs near fteeples, towers, or any 
edifices where their mates perform the office of 
incubation, emit a loud fcream, a fort of ferenade, 
as Mr. White fuppofes, to their refpective females. 
To 
( 
405 
