SWIFT. 
267 
INSFSSORES. HIRUNDINIDJE. 
FISSIROSTRES. 
SWIFT, 
BLACK MARTIN, SCREECH, DEVILING. 
Cypselus MURARIUS. 
PLATE LXV. FIG V. 
The Swift usually brings forth its young ones in holes 
of old ruins, towers, and steeples; sometimes under the 
tiles of churches and houses, and in lime-kilns. White 
says, “ In this village (Selbourne) some pairs frequent 
the lowest and meanest cottages;" and further adds, 
“we remember but one instance where they breed out 
of buildings, and that is in the sides of a deep chalk¬ 
pit." To this I may add, that I have seen them breed¬ 
ing in various places in the cliffs of the sea-coast. 
Professor Nilson says that, in Sweden the Swift breeds 
in hollow trees, a statement which is confirmed by Mr. 
Wolley. A correspondent of “Loudon's Magazine" also 
states that, observing a number of these birds at a dis¬ 
tance of thirty miles from any place where it was likely 
that they should breed, upon making inquiry, he disco¬ 
vered that they were occupying for that purpose the holes 
in trees perforated by the woodpecker. 
For the most part, I believe the Swift deposits its 
eggs either upon the bare stone or mortar, or upon the 
remains of a sparrow's nest; sometimes it builds one 
for itself. This is, however, of very little substance and 
