29-i THE UNIVERSE. 



wader, gorgeous troops of which enjoy themselves on the 

 shores of hot countries, usually builds its nest not far from 

 the sea, and arranges it in a very peculiar way, as its 

 monstrously long legs would not adapt themselves to the 

 ordinary style of nest-building. 



Flamingoes place their nests upon the ground, and build 

 them solely of coarsely tempered mud. These nests are 

 very curiously shaped, being like a narrow, lengthened 

 cone, and are about 20 inches in height; their truncated 

 summit presents a concavity, at the bottom of which the 

 female deposits two or three white eggs. In order to hatch 

 them she places her abdomen over them, and allows her 

 lec's to hane; down on both sides of the raised cone which 

 forms her edifice. 



Our visitants the swallows are more skilful builders than 

 the flamingoes. The little nuptial chambers which they 

 construct beneath the cornices of our Avindows, or in the 

 pointed arches of our churches, are only made of pure 

 earth, which they pick out bit by bit on the bank of the 

 river. Who knoAvs in the course of hoAv many journeys'? 



The Salaugane or esculent SAvallows, Avhich inhabit China 

 and the neighbouring islands, Ijuild nests which resemble 

 so many little bowls, which they affix by thousands to 

 inaccessible rocks, or in sombre caverns, as if to hide their 

 cliaste loves from every intrusive gaze. 



These nests are formed of a dirty white substance, 

 exactly analogous to isinglass; a singular appearance, which 

 has made people ascribe them to the most diverse sources. 

 They seemed so odd to Kajmpfer that he would not be- 

 lieve in them; the celebrated explorer of Japan insisted that 

 they Avere made entirely from the flesh of various Polypi. 



M. Poivre, Avho, to the title of governor of the Isle of 

 France, united another Avhich conferred far higher renoAvn 



