56 EDIBLE SWALLOW NESTS. 



than two ounces and a half. There are two places 

 in particular, near Batavia, where they are found in 

 great numbers; both in a range of high land, ex- 

 tending towards the sea. There are, indeed, other 

 places in the same district, or at a greater distance 

 from the coast, which either produce a few, or are 

 carefully concealed by the Javanese, who are un- 

 willing that others should interfere with the profit 

 they make by selling them to the Chinese, who are 

 the chief purchasers. 



The two bird-mountains above alluded to, are 

 insulated rocks, hollow within, and pierced with a 

 great number of openings. Many of these openings 

 are so wide, that a person can enter them with ease ; 

 others are attended with more difficulty, and some 

 are too small to admit of intrusion ; in these, there- 

 fore, the poor little birds are alone safe from robbery. 

 To the walls of these caverns, the birds affix their 

 small nests, in regular rows, and so close, that for 

 the most part they adhere together. They construct 

 them at different heights, from fifty to sixty feet, 

 sometimes higher, sometimes lower, according as they 

 find room; and no hole or convenient place, if dry 

 and clean, is left unoccupied; but, if the walls be in 

 the least wet, or moist, they immediately desert 

 them. At day-break, these birds fly abroad from 

 their holes, with a loud fluttering noise, and in the 

 dry seasons rise so high into the atmosphere in a 

 moment, as they have to seek their food in distant 

 parts, that they are soon out of sight. In the rainy 

 season, on the other hand, they never remove to a 

 great distance from their breeding-places. 



About four in the afternoon they again return, 



