THE COMMON SWIFT. 
417 
pying the space immediately beneath them : the Cypselus and 
Hirundo each occasionally broke through the other’s ranks. The 
month of August was much colder than usual that year, a cir- 
cumstance, however, which could hardly have influenced the swift 
in remaining beyond the ordinary period. The first assemblage 
of swallows and martins, constituting a vast multitude, was congre- 
gated for migration at the same time and place ; on the same day 
they and the swifts departed. In 1848, swifts became gradually 
scarcer, from the end of August until the 1st of Sept., on which 
day, two appeared at Belfast. On the 4th of September, 1835, 
some were observed by a scientific friend about Dunluce Castle ; 
on the 11th of that month in the following year, three of these 
birds were seen by myself at Hillsborough (county Down), and 
many more of the Hirundinidce, which appeared at some distance, 
were believed to be of this species. - * About the same place, many of 
the Hir. rustica were congregated preparatory to their departure. 
I have never witnessed any unusual assembling together of swifts, 
towards the time of their migration, like that of the swallow and 
martin. During the period of their stay, they are, in favourite 
localities, generally numerous and fly in company. 
In the course of a tour which I made to the south and south- 
east of Europe, & c., in 1841, the swift was met with at Malta on 
the 17th of April, when many appeared in company with the 
three common species of Ilirundo, — II. rustica, H. urbica, and II. 
riparia . None were seen during the passage of H.M.S. Beacon 
from Malta to the Morea, though numbers of H. rustica and II 
urbica alighted on the vessel. On the 6th and 7 th of May, 
swifts were next observed about the mountain-tops in the island 
of Syra, the weather being very fine and warm. Towards the end 
of the month they appeared at Smyrna, and were abundant at 
Constantinople. Early in June they were numerous about a rocky 
islet north-east of Port Nausa, in the island of Paros, and were 
breeding in the fissures of low marine cliffs. At the end of this 
* Mr. Poole, writing from tlie county of Wexford, notes the earliest appearance of 
the swift during four years to be on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of May ; the latest Sept 
11th and 20th. 
2 E 
VOL. I. 
