"Birds and the Bees"

[Charles Doyle]

Is that why they are called "swifts"?

--Charlie
____________________________________________________________

---- Original message ----
>Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 08:49:08 -0700
>From: Jeff Prucher <jprucher at YAHOO.COM>
>
>Some swifts really do mate on the wing, FWIW.
>
>Jeff
>
>
>--- Charles Doyle <cdoyle at UGA.EDU> wrote:
>
>>
>> Supposedly it's raptors (hawks, eagles, etc.)--those "amorous birds of prey" that the persona of Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" desires to emulate.
>>
>> I would imagine that copulation while plummeting through the air would require not only considerable athleticism but also great mental focus.
>>
>> --Charlie
>> _____________________________________________________________
>>
>> ---- Original message ----
>> >Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2007 20:37:12 -0400
>> >From: "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
>> >
>> >At 7/2/2007 06:46 PM, Jon L wrote: Bear in mind too that the "word sleuths"
>> may have quite misconstrued what "Sam had on his mind," since the bees in the
>> passage are making honey rather than whoopee, and the birds, though pairing
>> up, are "on the wing," not "in the sack."
>>
>> >
>> >Which birds mate on the wing?  Or is it only some insects?
>> >
>> >Joel

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