THE ESCULENT SWALLOW. 67 



Curious and edible nests. 



dainties by the Asiatic epicures. It generally 

 weighs about half an ounce ; and is in shape like 

 a half-moon, or, as some say, like a saucer, with 

 one side flatted, which adheres to the rock. The 

 texture somewhat resembles isinglass, or fine 

 gum-dragon : and the several layers of the com- 

 ponent matter are very apparent ; it being fabri- 

 cated from repeated parcels of a soft slimy sub- 

 stance, in the same manner as the martins form 

 their nests of mud. Authors differ much as to 

 the materials of which this nest is composed : 

 some suppose it to consist of sea-worms of the 

 Mullusea class ; others, of the sea-qualm (a kind 

 of cuttle fish), or a glutinous sea-plant called 

 Agal-agal. It has also been supposed that the 

 swallows rob other birds of their eggs ; and after 

 breaking the shells, apply the white of them in 

 the composition of these structures. 



The best sort of nests, which are perfectly free 

 from dirt, are dissolved in broth, in order to 

 thicken it ; and are said to give it an exquisite 

 flavour. Or they are soaked in water to soften 

 them ; then pulled to pieces ; and, after being 

 mixed with ginseng, are put into the body of a 

 fowl. The whole is then stewed in a pot, \\\. '; a, 

 sufficient quantity of water, and left on the coals 

 all night. On the following morning it is ready 

 to be eaten. 



These nests are found in vast numbers in cer- 

 tain caverns of various islands in the Soolo Ar- 

 chipelago. The best kind sell in China at from 

 i 2 



