14 
BEAUTIFUL BIBBS. 
The Swift is the largest species of British JECirun- 
dinidce. Its weight is remarkably small in proportion 
to the extent of its wings, the latter measuring eigh- 
teen inches, while the former is scarcely an ounce. 
The form of the Swift enables it to be the most 
rapid in its flight of all the Swallow tribe. It may be 
said indeed to live u])on the wdng. When it does 
alight on the ground, w'hich is rarely indeed, it can 
but crawl, on account of its short tarsi. The length 
of its wings also tend to keep it aloft, for they 
oppose themselves to its rising, which is difficult of 
achievement, even when attempted from moderate 
elevation, and it succeeds only after more than one 
or two trials. It may be said in truth never to settle 
willingly upon the ground. The sharp claws with 
which its toes are armed give it great capability for 
clinging to the slightest roughness on the front of 
rocks or sides of towers, in the dark crevices of which 
it hatclies and rears its young. The Swift is the 
latest species of the tribe that comes to our shores 
and the earliest to leave them, remaining amongst 
us only from about the middle of April until August. 
Around the thousands of village towers or spires 
which rear their venerable heads, amid trees often 
coeval with themselves, in onr land, these birds may 
very commonly be seen wiieeling in the fine mornings 
and evenings of the pleasant months of June and July. 
With a sharp scream they soar above oiu’ heads, dashing 
about round the angles of the building with amazing 
velocity. There is great interest in w'atching them ; 
it is wiiile on the wing that they feed and drink, collect 
materials for their nest, and enjoy their existence. 
