96 
British Birds. 
THE 
COMMON SWIFT. 
(Apus apus.) 
Although the 
Swift may often be 
seen hawking for 
insects in the air 
or over a river, in company with Swallows 
or Martins, it requires but a short ac- 
quaintance with its appearance and mode 
of flight to distinguish it from the latter 
birds. Not only does it appear to be per- 
fectly black, for the white on the throat is 
seldom seen during flight, but its long 
wings and much more vigorous method of 
propelling itself through the air are in con- 
trast to the graceful and more leisurely flight 
of the Swallows. The tail is slightly forked, 
but this is not often observed, for the bird 
generally carries the tail closed as it dashes 
through the air. In the evening Swifts 
become more active, though they may often be seen flying in full sunshine, but, as 
night approaches, they often assemble in small parties and dash round the houses or 
old towers in which their nests are built. The latter are of the roughest material, 
composed of wool and a few straws and feathers, and cemented together by the 
bird’s saliva. They are generally found under the roofs of houses, or in old spouts 
on buildings, such places being accessible to the birds by reason of the fall which is 
available for them to take to flight immediately they leave their nesting-place, as 
they are unable to rise from the ground ; the nesting-materials are therefore 
collected on the wing. The eggs are two or three in number, and are pure white. 
The Common Swift is found throughout Europe and the British Islands in 
summer, and winters in South Africa. 
The Common Swift. 
The Needle-Tailed Swift. 
THE 
NEEDLE-TAILED 
SWIFT. 
( Chcetura candacuta.) 
For a 
member of 
the family 
of Swifts, 
which are 
generally black or dull-coloured, 
the present species is rather a 
handsome bird and is of large 
size, measuring eight inches in 
length. It is recognised by the 
spiny shafts of the tail-feathers, 
which project beyond the 
