DR. THEODOR NEUMANN. 167 



that the nests are really composed of mucus secreted by 

 the peculiar glands of the bird. In most cases they can 

 scarcely be recognized as nests, since they look more like 

 corals or sponges, and are, in the opinion of many, not 

 appetizing. The island of Java seems to be peculiarly 

 adapted for the dwelling-place of these birds, which 

 congregate in large flocks in caverns and fissures of the 

 rocks, and build their nests upon the walls of these. The 

 collection of the nests is managed by the government, 

 which has laid down special regulations for this singular 

 harvest. It takes place at three periods in the year, the 

 principal one being gathered in the month of October, 

 after the birds have been left undisturbed for about six 

 months ; the other two gatherings are in December and 

 March, which furnish nests of superior quality, clean 

 and white, and free from any extraneous matter, while 

 during the longer interval of six months the quantity 

 of nests becomes much larger, but the quality is not so 

 good, as the nests are older. The number of nests col- 

 lected in Java is very great, and the total value of the 

 nests imported into China is said to be $1,500,000. This 

 value increases, moreover, to a very considerable extent 

 as the delicacies are conveyed away from the port of 

 entry and from the coast, so that one pound may bring 

 about $50 in any inland town of China. 



Another most remarkable cement manufacturer is the 

 klecho (Dendrochelidon longiplunis), which builds its 

 nest always alongside of a horizontal branch which, at 

 the same time, forms the hind wall of it. It is a rather 

 shallow, very small cup, just big enough to receive the 

 one egg of the bird. The walls of the nest are extremely 

 thin, scarcely thicker than paper, and consist of feath- 

 ers, lichens and small pieces of bark glued together, as 

 in the case of the salangans, with the saliva of the bird. 

 The smallness and frailty of the nest does not permit the 

 rather large and heavy bird to sit on it, she must, conse- 



105 



