Their powers seem to be in proportion to their levers; and their
wings are longer in proportion than those of almost any other bird.
When they mute, or ease themselves in flight, they raise their
wings, and make them meet over their backs.
At some certain times in the summer I had remarked that swifts
were hawking very low for hours together over pools and streams;
and could not help inquiring into the object of their pursuit that
induced them to descend so much below their usual range. After
some trouble, I found that they were taking phryganeae,
ephemerae, and libellulae (cadew-flies, may-flies, and dragon-
flies) that were just emerged out of their aurelia state. I then no
longer wondered that they should be so willing to stoop for a prey
that afforded them such plentiful and succulent nourishment.
They bring out their young about the middle or latter end of July:
but as these never become perchers, nor, that ever I could discern,
are fed on the wing by their dams, the coming forth of the young is
not so notorious as in the other species.
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