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sixteen hours. In the longest days it does 

 not withdraw to rest till a quarter before 

 nine in the evening, being the latest of all 

 day birds. Just before they retire, whole 

 groups of them assemble high in the air, 

 and squeak and shoot about with wonder- 

 ful rapidity. But this bird is never so much 

 alive as in sultry thundry weather, when it 

 expresses great alacrity, and calls forth all 

 its powers. In hot mornings several, get- 

 ting together in little parties, dash round 

 the steeples and churches, squeaking as 

 they go in a very clamorous manner : these, 

 by nice observers, are supposed to be males 

 serenading their setting hens ; and not 

 without reason, since they seldom squeak 

 till they come close to the walls or eaves, 

 and since those within utter at the same 

 time a little inward note of complacency. 



When the hen has sat hard all day she 

 rushes forth just as it is almost dark, and 

 stretches and relieves her weary limbs, and 

 snatches a scanty meal for a few minutes, 

 and then returns to her duty of incubation. 

 Swifts, when wantonly and cruelly shot 



