. 1 90 Scientific Intellig ence. — Zuohgy. 



in their earliest sta^e of being ; so that, according to M. Mor- 

 ren, the in«ect is a mammalia, according to the most accurate 

 sicrnification of the word. The Dorthesks, among the hemip- 

 teres, represent the Marsupiae, as this fly represents, in the same 

 class, the mammalia. 



9. Edible Birds Nests, how formed. — There is a peculiar 

 kind of bird-nest abounding on the Philippine Islands, which is 

 in high request amongst Chinese gourmands. Mr Trelawney, 

 in his Adventures of a Younger Son, tells us that the price of 

 a moderate cargo is occasionally immense, and relates an amus- 

 ing story of an English captain, who threw overboard enough 

 of them to have made the fortune of his family. Dr Meyen 

 thus explains the precise composition of this luxury : — The 

 weed which composes this branch of commerce is SphcBrococcus 

 cartihg-ineus var. sctaceus aq., which is found in great abun- 

 dance in this part of India. It is eaten by the bird {Hirundo 

 esculenta), which builds the nests in question, and is used in 

 the preparation of its precious nest. The swallow eats the fresh 

 weeds, and permits them to soften for some time in its stomach, 

 after which it throws up the mass, now converted into a jel'y, 

 and sticks it together to form the nest. The nests, which are 

 subsequently smeared over with dirt and feathers, are brought 

 in their raw state to China, where they are cleaned in immense 

 warehouses built for the purpose, and then exposed for sale. 

 These so-celebrated Indian nests are, therefore, hardly any 

 thino- more than the softened Sphcerococcus cm-tilagineus, which 

 we have brought with us from the Chinese seas, and their effects 

 is no other than that of fine jelly. In the preparation of these 

 nests, such a number of fine stimulants are generally added 

 that they of right occupy the first rank amongst relishes at the 

 tables of the Chinese. The Japanese had long ago discovered 

 that these costly bird-nests are nothing more than softened sea- 

 weed, and now prepare the substance itself in an artist-like 

 manner. Some of our own epicures may be glad to learn that 

 the Sphcerococcus crispus, which Dr Meyen thinks would serve 

 just as well for the composition of this luxury, is to be found in 

 large quantities on the western and northern coasts of Great 

 Britain. 



10. Pilot-fish. — The pilot-fish, says Dr Meyen, swims constant- 



