220 On the Ornithology of Wilts [Caprimulgidce], 



whole acres. But notwithstanding the vast powers of flight of the 

 Swift, prolonged through the entire day, surpassing that of all our 

 other birds, and with which the speed of the express train is not 

 to be compared for a moment, it is one of the latest of our summer 

 visitants to arrive, and one of the earliest to depart : it seems to 

 delight most in heavy close thunder weather, when it darts to and 

 fro, screeching forth its unearthly note, and is thought an uncanny 

 bird by many a housewife even in this county and in these days : 

 here it loves to frequent our downs in fine weather, where it may 

 be met with in considerable numbers ; and in the evenings, uttering 

 its loud and harsh scream, it wheels round and round the tops of 

 old towers and steeples, before retiring to roost in their crevices 

 and holes. Its colour with the exception of a dusky white chin, is 

 smoke black : its head is peculiarly flat as well as broad, and the 

 neck very short : it is singular that in rough and windy weather 

 it will not sally forth on its aerial rambles, but contents itself in 

 the dark in its retreat in some tower or wall : thus (as Bewick 

 remarks) " the life of the Swift seems to be divided into two 

 extremes ; the one, of the most violent exertion, the other of 

 perfect inaction : they must either shoot through the air, or 

 remain close in their holes." Their provincial name in Wiltshire 

 is " the Screech." 



CAPRIMULGIDJE (The Goatsuckers). 



There is no family of birds so illused by nomenclature as this : 

 not only have they received a false character, and an imputation 

 of crimes of which they were never guilty, but now that their 

 innocence has been long since clearty proved and universally 

 allowed, still they continue to be designated by the same oppro- 

 brious title ; and what an absurd idea it was, even for our marvel 

 loving old Naturalists, to accuse these harmless insect-eating birds, 

 of feeding on goats' milk, to obtain which however they are sin- 

 gularly ill-adapted. Their general characteristics are, very large 

 head with enormous width of gape ; large clear and full eyes, as 

 befit those who hunt entirely in the dark ; short neck, and very 

 small body ; plumage extremely soft and full ; wings and tail very 



