SWIFT. — Cpyselus, apis. 
The Common Swiet is very well known in England, as it loves to build its 
nest in the eaves of houses, and is very fond of thatched roofs, burrowing a hole 
well into the thatch, and making the nest at the end of the tunnel. When flying, 
the Swift screams continually, and is sometimes called the Jacky-screamer in 
consequence. 
When they have become accustomed to human beings, they are wonderfully 
indifferent to their presence, and will permit their movements to be watched 
without displaying any signs of fear. I well remember a certain street which 
was much favoured by the Swifts, who congregated in such great numbers, that 
they became a positive nuisance on account of the continual screaming which 
they kept up. The houses were mostly of a very ancient fashion, and their 
eaves were so low, that a man could introduce his hand into the Swifts’ tunnels 
merely by standing on a chair. Yet the birds cared nothing for their apparent 
danger, even though their nests were several times robbed of their contents. At 
one time, the small boys, who abounded in the neighbourhood, took a fancy to 
manufacture bows and arrows, with which they kept up a persevering fire upon 
the Swifts, as they went to and fro upon their avocations, or visited and returned 
from their nests. The birds, however, looked upon these weapons with supreme 
contempt, and never troubled themselves in the least about them. 
In general, the Swift loves to build its nest in a hole under a roof, whether 
slated, tiled or thatched, preferring, however, the warm, thick straw-thatch to the 
tile or slate. Sometimes it makes a hole in the thatch, through which it gains 
access to the nest, but in most instances it makes use of some already existing 
crevice for that purpose. 
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