50 AMID THE HIGH HILLS 
8 inches as compared with 6-75 inches — whilst 
their wings are 8-45 inches and 6-8 inches respect- 
ively, and as the two birds are of the same 
structure, one would naturally expect that the 
Alpine swift would be much the faster flier. The 
flight of the Alpine swift, like that of the black- 
cock, which is probably the fastest flier amongst 
game birds with the possible exception of the 
capercailzie, is very deceptive. 
Colonel JNIeinertzhagen, in the article already 
mentioned, describes some observations from an 
aeroplane in regard to the flight of a large flock of 
common swifts feeding at an altitude of 6000 feet 
over Mosul in Mesopotamia. He describes how 
they circled round the aeroplane, which was flying 
at 68 miles an hour, and easily overtook it. In 
commenting on this case he says : " The case of 
the Mosul swifts is interesting. The birds were 
probably not on passage but simply feeding. It 
is known that swifts travel great distances in 
search of food and ascend great altitudes. 
*' In the Middle Atlas of Morocco, in the Hima- 
layas, in Crete, and Palestine, 4000 or 5000 feet 
and 50 miles or so in distance seems nothing to 
these incomparable fliers. I have had splendid 
opportunities of observing the Alpine, common. 
