THE BLACK MARTIN, OR SWIFT. 



221 



phot fired at them. The same sort of nests are said also to be fou d 

 in deep caverns at the foot of the highest mountains in the middle of 

 Java, and at a great distance from the sea. The Esculent Swallows 

 feed on insects which they find hovering over stagnated pools between 

 the mountains, and for the catching of which their wide-opening beakd 

 are particularly adapted. They prepare their nests from the best 

 remnants of their food. Their greatest enemy is the Kite, which often 

 intercepts them in their passage to and from the caverns. The nests 

 are placed in horizontal rows, at different depths, from fifty to five 

 hundred feet. The color and value of the nests depend on the quantity 

 and quality of the insects caught; and, perhaps, also on the situation 

 in which they are built. Their value is chiefly ascertained by the 

 uniform fineness and delicacy of their texture ; those that are white and 

 transparent being most esteemed, and often fetching, in China, their 

 weight in silver. 



" These nests are a considerable object of traffic among the Javanese ; 

 many of whom are employed in it from their infancy. The birds, after 

 having spent nearly Uvo months in preparing their nests, lay each two 

 eggs, which are hatched in about fifteen days. AVhenthe young birds 

 become fledged, is the proper time to take the nests; and this is re- 

 gularly done three times a year, and is. effected by means of ladders of 

 bamboo and reeds, by which the people descend into the caverns : but 

 when these are very deep, rope-ladders are preferred. This operation 

 is attended with much danger. 4 The inhabitants of the mountains, who 

 obtain a livelihood by collecting the nests, always begin by sacrificing 

 a buffalo. They also pronounce certain prayers, anoint themselves 

 with sweet-scented oil, and smoke the entrance of the cavern with 

 gum-benjamin. Near some of the caverns a tutelar goddess is wor- 

 shipped, whose priest burns incense, and lays his protecting hands on 

 every person preparing to descend. A flambeau is, at the same time, 

 carefully prepared, with a gum which exudes from a tree growing ia 

 the vicinity, and which is not easily extinguished by fixed air or 

 subterraneous vapors." 



THE BLACK MARTIN, OR SWIFT. 



The legs of the Swift are so short, that the actions of walking and 

 rising from the ground seem very difficult to it. Providence, however, 

 has made the bird ample compensation, by furnishing it with means, 

 in a peculiarly great extent of wing, for an easy and long-continued 

 flight. It passes more of its time on wing than any other Swallow, 

 and its flight is more rapid. It breeds under the eaves o:" houses, in 

 steeples, and other lofty buildings ; and makes its nest of grass and 

 feathers. 



The feet of this bird are of a peculiar structure, all the toes standing 

 forward. The least toes consist of only one bone ; the others of two 

 each ; in which they differ from the toes of all other birds. This, 

 however, is a construction nicely adapted to the purposes for which tha 

 feet of these bird,* are employed. 



