750 
Mr. II. S. Dove on the Relation of the 
Swifts the weather was fine and summer-like, and on the lOtli 
and 11th of December more companies arrived, apparently 
from the same direction; some flew within a few yards of the 
ground, passing us with a great “ swish 9i of their powerful 
wings. In a few days the weather changed from calm and 
summer-like to rough and windy, with heavy showers, while 
during the week following, i. e. Dec. 18th and onwards, we 
had terrific squalls from the westward. Towards the end 
of the same month of December two companies of this 
species were noted before and after stormy weather. 
On January 6th, 1911, a party of the same Swifts was 
observed in the midst of a thunderstorm flying towards the 
north-east, the wind at the time being north-west. 
On February 1st, 1911, while proceeding by launch up the 
Tambio River, East Gippsland, we noticed many of these 
Swifts flying backwards and forwards over the river, some at 
a low elevation ; the day was sunny and extremely warm, 
with a light easterly breeze. Two days afterwards the sky 
became overcast and we had a gale from the eastward. 
8th February.—Large numbers of the Spine-tails were seen 
high in the air, early in the morning, in fine weather. The 
next day broke fine, but raiu came ou during the morning and 
continued until noon, while on Feb. 10th heavy squalls of 
wind and rain passed over South-eastern Victoria. 
West Tevonport , Tasmania . 
March 11th, 1911.—Numbers of the Swifts^appeared on the 
8th, 9th, and 10th of this month during disturbed thundery 
weather with rain, and during part of the time a high 
south-east wind. There were great floods again in Victoria 
and in parts of this island. 
March 20th.—The birds again appeared yesterday, when 
there was rain almost the whole day. They passed in a 
leisurely way from west to east near the sea and at a con¬ 
siderable elevation. 
March 23rd.—Swifts again seen coursing about; soon 
afterwards rough weather set in. 
