OF SELBOUNE. 
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in this village some pairs frequent the lowest and meanest 
cottages, and educate their young under those thatched 
roofs. We remember but one instance where they breed 
out of buildings ; and that is in the sides of a deep chalk-pit 
near the town of Odiham, in this county, where we have 
seen many pairs entering the crevices^ and skimming and 
squeaking round the precipices. 
As I have regarded these amusive birds with no small 
attention^ if I should advance something new and peculiar 
with respect to them, and different from all other birds, I 
might perhaps be credited, especially as my assertion is the 
result of many years^ exact observation. The fact that I 
would advance is, that swifts pair on the wing ; and I would 
wish any nice observer, that is startled at this supposition, 
to use his own eyes, and I think he will soon be convinced. 
In another class of animals, viz. the insect, nothing is so 
common as to see the different species of many genera pair- 
ing as they fly. The swift is almost continually on the wing; 
and as it never settles on the ground, on trees, or roofs, 
would seldom find opportunity for pairing, except in the 
air. If any person would watch these birds of a fine morn- 
ing in May, as they are sailing round at a great height from 
the ground, he would see, every now and then, two meet, 
and both of them sink down together for many fathoms 
with a loud piercing shriek. 
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 
invariably 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 iii the height of summer at least sixteen 
hours. In the longest days it does not withdraw to rest till 
^ We have occasionally found three eggs in a nest, and those were 
taken from under the eaves of some old cottages in West Sussex. — Ed. 
