File:British birds' nests; how, where, and when to find and identify them (1898) (14562931040).jpg

Identifier: britishbirdsnest00kear (find matches)
Title: British birds' nests; how, where, and when to find and identify them
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Kearton, Richard, 1862-1928
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain Birds -- Nests
Publisher: London, New York (etc.) Cassell and company, limited
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
^ short, with an extra-ordinary width of gape, and black. The whole ofthe plumage is a dingy black, except the chin,which is of a dirty white colour. The tail is ofmedium length and forked, and the wings very longand sword-like; legs, toes, and claws black. Thefeet have four toes, all of which are in front. The female is similar to the male in size and
Text Appearing After Image:
282 BBITISn BIRDS NESTS. colour. Easily distinguished from Swallow by largersize, shorter tail, and colour. Sit II at ion (Did Local iti/.—Holes in church towers,chimneys, sea cliffs, under the tiles of houses andbarns. Our illustration is from a photograph ofa labourers cottage near Leatherhead, under whosetiles an astonishing number of Swifts nest everyyear. The tenant informed us that he could hardlyever sleep after daybreak on account of the noisemade by the hungry young Swifts. Throughoutthe British Isles; though there are districts wherethe bird is not met with. Materials.—Scarcely any, consisting only of afew straw^s lined wdtli feathers, and often glued orcemented together with viscid saliva. The Swiftwill turn to account the old nest of any other bird,provided it is suitably situated, or even lay its eggsamongst a collection of cobwebs and dust. E(j()H.—Two, sometimes three and even four;white, unmarked, and of a narrow elongated shape.Size about 1*0 by -66 in. Time,—

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