266 HIRUNDINIDJ5. 



Young birds of the year, before leaving this country, 

 have the brown feathers of the back and upper tail-coverts, 

 as also those of the wing-coverts and the tertials, tipped 

 with buffy white, as shown in the upper figure of the two 

 representations given at the head of this subject ; the chin 

 is also buffy white. 



White and yellowish white varieties of the Sand Martin 

 are occasionally obtained. 



The upper figure in the illustration represents a young 

 bird of the year ; the other is from an adult bird. 



The vignette below represents the edible nest of the 

 Chinese Swallow. These nests, which look something like 

 isinglass, are of different qualities and value, depending 

 on their purity and whiteness. Specimens were produced 

 at the Great Industrial Exhibition, in 1851, valued, the 

 first quality at 3 2s. 8d. per pound ; the second quality, 

 at 9s. 4%d. per pound ; and the third, 3s. Id. per pound. 



