A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.

George Montagu

Date:: 1866

Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

365/440 page 337

$SWIFTFOOT. with us later than either of the other spe- cies ; seldom is seen till May; frequents steeples, towers, and other lofty buildings, in the holes of which it makes its nest; but will sometimes build under the tiles of houses aud barns. The nest is made of dried grass, lined with feathers, which the birds collect on wing, sweeping it off the ground in a dexterous manner; for it rarely alights on the ground for any pur- pose. Like the Swallow, it sips the water as it skims over the surface, and at the same time picks up flies therefrom. It lays only two white eggs, of an oblong shape, larger than that of the Swallow; and while the female is sitting the male is continually flying to and from the spot, making a screeching noise, which is the only note it has. At night both sit upon the nest, or at least roost in the same hole. In very warm weather these birds soar to a great height, but in cold or moist weather fly low in search of flies and other winged insects, which at that time cannot ascend. By the middle of August these wholly dis- appear, which is a month before the other species. It is said to inhabit the greater part of the Old Continent, and has been found in some parts of America, and at the Cape of Good Hope. [Swift, Alpine.— Yarrell, ii. 276 ; Hewit- 8on, Ixv. 269. Hirundo Melba, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 345. Cypselus Melba, Illiger, Prod. Man. et Av. p. 230. Cypselus alpinus, Temm. Man. d'Omith. i. 433.—“ The beak is black, aud longer in proportion than in the Common Swift; the irides blackish brown; the top of the head, sides of the neck, and aU the upper surface of the body, wings, and tail nearly uniform hair- brown ; chin, throat, breast, and belly white; a band across the upper part of the breast; the thighs, vent, and under tail-coverts hair-brown; feathers on the legs brown; toes orange-brown ; claws dark brown. The whole length of the bird, from the point of the beak to the end of the feathers of the tail, which are forked and veiy stiff, is eight inches and three-eighths. From the cai’pal joint of the wing to the end of the longest fea- ther eight inches and five-eighths; the wings when closed reach two inches be- yond the forked tail; the second quill- feather the longest in the wing ; the first feather a little longer than the third ; the shafts of all black.” — Yarrell, ii. 278. This species is a native of the islands and shores of the Mediterranean, breeding in the rocky mountains of Spain and in some parts of the Alps ; but is entirely un- known in the more northern countries of Europe : it rejmirs to Africa at the ap- proach of winter. Mr. Yarrell mentions the occurrence of five specimens of the Alpine Swift in Britain ; the first was killed early in June, 1820, by the bailiff of Mi\ Hol- ford, at Kingsgate, in the Isle of Thanet; it is now in the possession of Mr. Hale, of Alderley. In the ‘ Note-book of a Natu- ralist,’ as quoted by Mr. Yarrell, it is stated, at p. 226, that on the 20th of Au- gust, 1830, a very fine specimen of the Alpine Swift flew into a room at Dover. Mr. Yarrell mentions another specimen shot near Buckenham Church, in Norfolk, on the 13th of October, 1831, and now in the possession of the Rev. T. Fulcher, of Old Buckenham. In the ‘ Dublin Penny Journal ’ of March, 1833, there is a record of a rare bird killed at Eathfarnham, near Dublin, and now in the possession of Mr. Warren, of Dublin. Mr. Sinclaire examined it, and found it to be a specimen of the Alpine Swift: the specimen was obtained off Cape Clear, several miles from land. A specimen is recorded both by Mr. Macgil- livray and Mr. YarreU to have been picked up near Saffron Walden, in Essex, in July, 1838. Mr. Macgillivray records, in his ‘ History of British Birds ’ (iii. 613), that Mr. Harley, of Leicester, saw an Alpine Swift on the wing on the 23rd of Septem- ber, 1839. Mr. Thompson records, in his ‘ Natural History of Ireland’ (i. 418) that a specimen of the Alpine S\vift was shot near Doneraile, in the County Cork, in June, 1844 or 1845. In the ‘Zoologist’ for 1852 Mr. Ellman informs us, at p. 3330, that a bird of this species was knocked down by a boy, while sitting on a rail, at St. Leonard’s, in Sussex: the bird was stuffed, and is now in the possession of Mr. Johnson, Chemist, of St. Leonard’s. In the volume for 1864 it is recorded, at p. 8955, by Dr. Alcock, that a specimen was taken during divine service in St. Mary’s Church, Hulme, Manchester, on Sunday, the 18th of October, 1863 : it was stuffed, and is in the possession of Mr. C. R. Jones.] Swine-Pipe.—See Redwing. [Swiftfoot, Creamcoloured, — See Plover, Creamcoloured.]$