204 
NATURAL HISTORY 
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 thundry weather, when it expresses great alac- 
rity, 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 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 wan- 
tonly and cruelly shot while they have young, discover a 
little lump of insects in their mouths, which they pouch and 
hold under their tongue. In general they feed in a much 
higher district than the other species: a proof that gnats 
and other insects do also abound to a considerable height in 
the air : they also range to vast distances ; since locomotion 
is no labour to them, who are endowed with such wonderful 
powers of wing. Their powers seem to be in proportion to 
their levers ; and their wings are longer in proportion than 
those of almost any other bird. When they mute, or ease 
themselves in flight, they raise their wings, and make them 
meet over their backs. 
At some certain times in the summer I had remarked 
that swifts were hawking very low for hours together over 
pools and streams; and could not help inquiring into the 
object of their pursuit that induced them to descend so 
much below their usual range. After some trouble, I found 
that they were taking Phryganece, EpliemercB, and Lihellulce 
(cadew-flies, may-flies, and dragon-flies), that were just 
emerged out of their aurelia state. I then no longer won- 
dered that they should be so willing to stoop for a prey that 
afibrded them such plentiful and succulent nourishment. 
