SWIFT, G'Ypselzts, a genus of birds of the swallow family. The distinctive of the group, of which the true swifts are the type, are noticed in the article SWALLOW:. The swifts, like the swallows, are widely distributed, and some are only found in trop ical countries; others are birds of passage, and spend the summer in colder parts of the world. Many of the swift group are often popularly called swallows, as that which.: produces the edible nests of the East Indies. In the genus Cypselus, as now restricted, the tail is generally forked, the legs and toes feathered, and very small and weak, all the four toes directed forward. The birds of this genus pass most of their time in the air, and even copulate on the wing. The wings are longer than in any other bird; and the internal structure, even of the skeleton, is peculiarly adapted to prolonged flight. The anatomy more resembles that of humming-birds than of true swallows.—The COMMON SWIFT (C. apus) is common in almost all parts of the n. of Europe and of Asia in sum mer, retiring to tropical or subtropical regions in winter. It occurs even in Lapland. Its residence in its summer quarters is much shorter than that of swallows; and it is worthy of notice, that the swift is seldom to be seen along with any of the swallows or martins, the different kinds choosing different localities, even although very close. together. The swift is easily recognized in its flight by the remarkably sickle-shaped wings, and its slight scream is very different from the twitter of the swallow. It is. black, with a white throat. It makes its nest in holes of rocks or of walls, often in those: of houses. The nest is formed of bits of straw, dry blades of grass, and bents, feathers,
and other such substances, which are apparently glued together by a mucous secretion. The swift sometimes builds in hollow trees. bwifts, like swallows, seem to return to the same place to make their nest, year after year, and repair the old nest, instead of making a new one.—The ALPINE SWIFT, or WHITE-BELLIED SWIFT (C. alpinus), is rarely seen in Britain, but is common in the more southern countries of Europe. It builds in high rocks, sometimes in steeples. It is larger than the common swift, and is the largest of the British Illrundinida. Its wings are even longer in proportion than those of the common swift. Its voice is sweet, not a scream like that of the common swift.—The AMERICAN SWIFT (Clustura pelasgia) has the hind-toe directed backward, and the tail feathers stiff and pointed, as in woodpeckers. It is a small bird, not above 4t in. in entire length, butt ft. ,in extent of wing. The general color is brownish black, with greenish reflections, the throat grayish white, the under parts grayish brown. The i nest is made of small dry twigs, which the bird breaks off from the tree, and carries. away in its feet; and they are attached by means of the saliva, to the rock, wall, or hol low tree where the nest is made. From its frequently building in chimneys, this species• - __ is known as the Chimney Swallow in North America. Great numbers often build together, sometimes choosing for this purpose an unused chimney in a town.