THE COMMON SWIFT. 
415 
here, when skimming merely above the top of the heath. Towards 
evening, — often about an hour before retiring to roost, —they 
return from these comparatively distant flights, and are then seen 
near their accustomed haunts for some time previous to retiring 
for the night, having thus led persons to believe that the evening 
is one of their favourite times for stirring out. Swifts may like- 
wise be occasionally seen on wing in the vicinity of their nests 
throughout the very finest weather. The remark that the swift 
“in high windy days, will remain for hours in its retreat, motion- 
less, and in the dark,” * I consider equally erroneous with that just 
commented on. At such times, and during storms, as I have 
frequently observed, they wander abroad to feed in congregated 
numbers ; on account of their prey then keeping low, they are 
generally to be seen in sheltered localities. 
The following note was made on swifts as observed at Dunluce' 
Castle, near the Giants’ Causeway. On the 12th of June, 1842, 
I was attracted by, and remained for some time watching, a number 
of these birds, which, although the day was beautifully bright and 
warm, kept flying low, within a very few yards of my head. They 
occasionally, I thought, — but could not be certain, owing to the 
rapidity of their flight and the presence of house-martins, — 
uttered a short pleasing note, lower than that of the Alpine swift ; 
but their loud shrill cry was stilled. The last place I had paused 
to observe Cypseli was in the island of Sphacteria, where the C. 
melba was the attraction, consequently the C. murarius was to- 
day brought into direct comparison with that species, on which 
remarks will elsewhere be found. It was highly interesting to 
witness their motions as they flew noiselessly — with the occasional 
exceptions already noticed — a few yards above my head. The 
tail would at one moment be drawn to a point, the next, appear 
square at the end ; would then present a “ tender fork,” and the 
next instant, its full furcation : again, it would be expanded to 
the uttermost, with the feathers simply touching at their margins, 
and the whole tail appearing so membranous that the light shone 
* Yarrell, B. B. vol. ii. p. 262. 2nd edit. 
