74 CLASS-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



low, only three inches long, of a brown color, white at the 

 extremity of the tail, and an inhabitant of China, Hin- 

 doostan,*and Japan, where it builds the celebrated edible 

 .bird's-nest. 



§ 292. The edible bird's-nest resembles a small saucer, 

 divided in the middle. Its straight margin is about two 

 inches long, the body thin : it looks like clear glue, and is 

 semi-transparent and brittle. 



§ 293. The white ones are the best, and when dissolved 

 in chicken or mutton-broth, are considered a 'great deli- 

 cacy, in China, Hindoostan, Japan, England, and France. 



§ 294. The Salangane inhabits rocky, dark caverns, 

 near the sea., as well as those of the interior country, 

 where it is found by millions. They fasten their nests, 

 which seem to be a composition of fish-spawn and several 

 sea-plants, on the walls of those dark abodes. 



§ 295. The collecting of these nests is very dangerous, 

 and often fatal to the collector. They command a high 

 price, selling for five dollars the pound at Canton, where 

 their importation in one year equals a million and a half 

 of dollars. 



§.296. The Rice-bird, or Boblink, or Reed-bird, (Em- 

 beriza oryzivora,) is seven inches long, black, with white 

 shoulders and tail, and a yellow neck. 



§ 297. The Rice-bird is a bird of passage, lives during 

 the winter in the tropics, and comes in the summer to the 

 United States, where it is a plague to the farmer ; for rice, 

 corn, wheat, barley, and rye, are its principal food. But 

 it has, however, three good qualities : its plumage is hand- 

 some, jts warbling pleasant and musical, and its flesh the 

 greatest delicacy. 



§ 298. The Cardinal-bird (Loxia cardinalis) is nearly 

 eight inches long, of a red color on the body, black on the 

 throat, and with a tuft on the head. It is an inhabitant 

 of the southern States of the Union, but is sometimes seen 

 in the northern parts of Europe. It is known under the 

 name of the Virginia Nightingale, on account of its sweet 

 song. 



§ 299. The Goldfinch (Fringilla tristis) is as large as a 

 Canary-bird, of a beautiful yellow, with black wings and 



