SWIFTS.
(TO VII EDITOR OF THE spEcteron.1
Si,—Can any of your readers who are wise about birds give an explanation of the strange and captivating behaviour of certain swifts, of which I subjoin an account ? Ever since we came here, three weeks ago, I have noticed numbers of swifts hawking about in the angle of the hotel into which my bedroom window looks. Two or three days ago, on coming into the room I saw a swift clinging to the lace curtain. I easily captured it, and at first imagined it must have stunned itself against the window, as (after a slight struggle on finding itself enclosed in a human hand) it lay quite still. Closer inspec- tion, however, showed that it was well and lively, so, not knowing what else to do with it, I opened my hand out of the window as a suggestion that it was at liberty to fly away. But this it quite refused to do. It lay quite still in my open hand, not stirring a feather, its bright eye seeming to say: "I wish you would shut your hand again." Again and again I took it to the window, but each time it refused the opportunity of escape. I then kept it in myjrand for about an hour, during which time it went to sleep. On waking it gave a very human yawn, and seemed rather surprised to find itself where it was. I again held it out of the window, and after waving it up and down on my open hand as the politest form of intimating to the bird that it really must go now, it suddenly was off like a flash of light- ning, thus proving that it was not at all hurt. My little guest seems to have given a very good account of his entertainment to his friends, for in a few hours' time two or three more 'lime in to he treated in much the same way; and if Iliad not closed the window, there might have been half-a-dozen. One beautiful swift alighted on my hand as I was in the act of reaching out to shut the window, and held on for some seconds with most determined grasp while I admired his velvet head, bright, quick eyes, and scythe-like wings. It was a great pleasure to have the swiftest and boldest flyer among birds settling on one's hand of its own free will, and apparently enjoying being stroked and caressed ; but what induced them to act so ? It was not hunger, because their stomachs had been recently full. The only suggestion I can make is that the cold and wet of the previous days had deprived them of sleep and. warmth, and I 'should add that a storm was going on at the time.--I am, Sir, &c., PEILCIVAL SMITH, Brunnen, Zak. of Lucerne, June 24th. Officiating Chaplain.
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