England.
Oxford.
1911.
July 9
[July 9, 1911]

Swifts.

  Swifts are very numerous in Oxford this season. At evening
I see them by dozens and even scores careering about over the
houses in the town or over the more open parts of the Park.
The alternate use of their wings is habitual and perfectly
obvious. I have made it out dozens of times to my entire
satisfaction during the past week. Their flight is much
like that of our Chimney Swift but less rapid and more
Swallow-like with less frequent wing beats. At times, however,
they move exactly like our birds & quite as swiftly.
English authors characterize their notes as "screeching". Near at
hand they certainly suggest such characterization but when
heard only faintly they sound very like the lisping Zee-ee-ee
of our Cedar Bird. They look larger than our Swifts
but the apparent difference in size is not so great as 
the external difference. When they are soaring with set wings
the bend of the wing looks different & more pronounced than
that of our Swift.