154 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



occasion the Swift was hanging on the outside of its basket near the 

 fire, and the warmer it became the louder grew its song, when a Toad 

 walked in, evidently attracted by the song and expecting a meal. 

 The Swift is extremely sensitive to cold, and for this reason I found 

 it impossible to keep it in a cage. I did try it, but it wandered aim- 

 lessly about and seemed very unhappy. Then I tried putting flannel 

 in the bottom of the cage; it immediately burrowed under the flannel, 

 so this quite decided me. I have kept it in quite a small basket, the 

 lid of which is generally open ; it never attempts to come out except 

 when it is time to be fed ; it can gauge the two hours as accurately as 

 I can, then it will come on to the edge of the basket and look at me. 

 A weird little object it looks, with its large deep eyes. If I do not 

 notice it, it will begin to flap its wings, and if that does not gain 

 attention, it will flutter to the floor. I place flannel in the basket, 

 and also cover it with flannel, and I keep a hot-water bottle under- 

 neath, well wrapped up to allow a little heat to filter through. One 

 of its happiest moments is when the bottle has been newly filled ; it 

 spreads itself out on the flannel, almost like a bird taking a sun-bath. 

 It sleeps with its neck and head flat on the flannel and never behind 

 its wing. It has a very good digestion, and has never cast up any 

 pellets. It is apparently healthy and in good condition, and, I think, 

 quite happy. 



It moulted slightly all through the winter, and in the second 

 week in January it shed in one night all the feathers from head and 

 neck, and a thin line on each side of the breastbone ; in about three 

 days the new quills appeared, and the plumage developed in about a 

 fortnight, much stronger and healthier than the first growth. I did 

 not notice any signs of migratory restlessness ; at the time the Swifts 

 were leaving I left it out of doors constantly that it might go if it 

 wished. It plumes itself a great deal, but I have seen no inclination 

 to bathe. 



In its habits the Swift is quite unlike the ordinary cage bird ; it 

 enjoys being caressed and handled, it will close its eyes while being 

 stroked, and flutter its wings and at the same time utter its faint 

 little chirp in a most fascinating manner. It comes into my bed 

 every morning, and if I do not wake when it is ready to come, it will 

 utter its cry of annoyance ; as soon as the lid of the basket is opened 

 it will flutter on to my shoulders and creep into my neck, wedging 

 itself tightly between my neck and the pillow ; when it has enjoyed 

 this position for a short time, it will come out and nibble my face for 

 something to eat, and after it is satisfied, will retire with great speed 



