318 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



group, rising till they are out of sight, and low in rainy weather, 

 returning early in the afternoon direct to their cavern, from 

 which they do not again issue till the following morning. Most 

 of these details are gathered from M. Hooyman's paper on C. 

 nidifica. 



The Rev. J. Barbe remarks, of the nests of C. fuciphaga, 

 gathered at the Nicobars, at Mergui, kc, that " They are of 

 six qualities : the first, of a fine whitish colour, is obtained by 

 taking the nest before the Swift has laid its eggs. This quality 

 is sold at Penang from forty to fifty dollars the katee (!) The 

 second quality, of a brownish colour, is obtained by taking the 

 nest when the bird has laid her eggs. This quality is sold at 

 Penang from twenty to thirty dollars the katee. The third 

 quality is of a dark colour, mixed with blood and feathers, being 

 obtained by taking the nests when the young birds have flown ; 

 the price of this is very low." The gradual exhaustion of the 

 bird, according to Mr. Barbe's information, has been already cited. 

 " The manner in which the Chinamen prepare the nest," con- 

 tinues the same gentleman, " is to steep it in water during one 

 night ; then with great trouble they clean it. This being done, 

 they boil it in water, to which they have added some sugar-candy, 

 till the whole forms a jelly : one nest prepared in this manner is 

 enough for one person."* 



The people who gather the edible nests practise a variety of 

 superstitious ceremonies in relation to them, which belong rather 

 to their history than to that of the birds, and therefore need not 

 be here described. But another point of interest arises respect- 

 ing the actual species which produce them ; and it would seem 

 that all the authorities to whom I have access, who have discri- 

 minated difi'erent species of these birds, are more or less in error. 

 Firstly, as regards the Ilirundo escidenta of Linnaeus (founded on 

 Brisson's description of one of M. Poivre's inaccurate drawings), 

 there is no reason to suppose that this as described, with yellow 



-•= "Birds' nests being very dear," lie further continues, "the wealthy 

 Chinamen only can obtain this delicacy. The rich opium smokers take in 

 the morning a cup of it for the purpose of refreshing and strengthening their 

 debilitated frames. Persons attacked by consumption are advised by the 

 Chinese practitioners to take these nests ; they prescribe the same to those 

 who are reduced by a protracted illness ; and I have seen several persons, 

 who, having made use of this remedy, declared that they found a temporary 

 rehef from this refreshing and nourishing food." — Journ. As. Soc. xv, 3G3. 



