LXII.] 
OF SELBORNE. 
179 
of animals, viz. the insect, nothing is so common as to see the 
different species of many genera in conjunction as they tly. 
The swift is almost continually on the wing ; and as it never 
settles on the ground, on trees, or roofsj would seldom find 
opportunity for amorous rites, was it not enabled to indulge 
them in the air. If any person would watch these birds of a 
fine morning in May, as they are sailing round at a great height 
from the ground, he would see, every now and then, one drop 
on the back of another, and both of them sink down together 
for many fathoms with a loud piercing shriek. Tins I take to 
be the juncture when the business of generation is carrying on. 
As the swift eats, drinks, collects materials for its nest, and, 
as it seems, propagates on the wing, it appears to live more in 
the air than any other bird, and to perform all functions there 
save those of sleeping and incubation. 
This hirundo differs widely from its congeners in laying in- 
variably but two eggs at a time, which are milk-white, long, and 
peaked at the small end ; whereas the other species lay at each 
brood from four to six. It is a most alert bird, rising very early 
and retiring to roost very late ; and is on the wing in the height 
of summer at least 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 wonderful rapidity. But this bird is never so much 
alive as in sultry thundery weather, when it expresses great 
alacrity, and calls forth all its powers. In hot mornings, several, 
getting 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 sitting 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 for a few 
minutes, just as it is almost dark, to stretch and relieve her 
weary limbs, and snatch a scanty meal, and then returns to her 
duty of incubation. Swifts, when wantonly and cruelly shot 
N 2 
