PLATE CXCV^ 



Swift. Brit. Zool. 1. 171. t. 51. —Will. (Angl) p. '214. L 

 39.—Jlbin. 2. p. 55. 

 Lath. Geii. Sj/n. 4. p. 584. 34. 



The Swift appears to be an inhabitant of ahnost every part of the 

 known globe, as we learn from the teftimony of many travellers who 

 have feen it in the different countries they have refpectively vifited : 

 in the Britiih iiles it remains only for n very fhort period, feldom ar- 

 riving before the early part of May, and retiring again about the be- 

 gii.ning of the month of August, 



The fpecies is about eight inches in length, the colour footy black, 

 except the chin, which is white ; the female differs from the male 

 only in being rather fmaller, the plumage browuilh, and the white on 

 the throat more obfcure than in the male bird. 



From the diminutive fize of the feet it walks with much difficulty^ 

 and cannot rife from the, ground. It is, therefore, never feen in any 

 low fituation, unlefs it ihould chance to fall there by accident, but refts 

 upon the tops and fides of houfes, church fteeples, the lofty craggs of 

 hills or other confiderable elevations, from whence it can conveniently 

 take its flight. In the mornings and evenings it is obferved on the 

 wing, flying and darting in a fwift and peculiar manner in fearch of 

 infers, its cuftomary food ; and which it eafily catches in the enormous 

 gape of its mouth, while on the wing. The Swifts fly only in the 

 morning and evening : during the day time, and in the night they lixrk 

 m their hiding places to avoid the extremities of either hei^t or cold. 



The Swift is faid to have only one brood in a year : the eggs, ufually 

 five in number, are of a lengthened form^ and white colour. 



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