THE ESCULENT SWALLOW. G{) 



Sir George Staunton's account. 



at the foot of the highest mountains in the mid- 

 dle of Java, at a distance from the sea : from 

 which source it is thought that the birds derive 

 no materials, either for their food, or the con- 

 struction of their nests ; as it does not appear 

 probable they should fly, in search of either, 

 over the intermediate mountains, which are very 

 high, or against the boisterous winds prevailing 

 thereabout. They feed on insects, which they 

 find hovering over stagnated pools between the 

 mountains, and for the catching of which their 

 wide-opening beaks are particularly adapted. 

 They prepare their nests from the best remnants 

 of their food . Their greatest enemy is the kite; 

 who often intercepts them in their passage to 

 and from the caverns, which are generally sur- 

 rounded with rocks of grey limestone, or white 

 marble. The nests are placed in horizontal rows, 

 at different depths, from fifty to five hundred 

 feet. The colour and value of the nests depend 

 on the quantity and quality of the insects caught ; 

 and, perhaps, also on the situation where they 

 are built. Their value is chiefly ascertained by 

 the uniform fineness and delicacy of their tex- 

 ture ; those that are white and transparent being 

 most esteemed, and fetching often in China their 

 weight in silver. 



" These nests are a considerable object of traf- 

 fic among the Javanese, many of whom are em- 

 ployed in it from their infancy. The birds, after 

 having spent nearly two months in preparing 



