No. 4. — 1848.] SKETCHES IN NATURAL HISTORY. 



93 



the interior is lined with thin threads of it, crossing and 

 recrossing each other in every direction. The ends of the 

 materials added to it are all drawn together to the upper 

 corners of the nest, and diverge in the middle, thus 

 forming a semi-circular shallow cupahout If in. deep, 2 j in. 

 long, by 2 in. broad. The formation seems grandular, and 

 effected in layers, which can be split apart with little force. 

 I cannot detect any appearance of Mood, as remarked by the 

 Rev. J. Barbe, in the Journal of the Asiatic Society, chapter 

 xv., page 363. A new nest in the possession of our Presi- 

 dent, Sir J. E. Tennent, is composed entirely of the clean 

 white gummy matter, without any admixture of grasses or 

 any foreign body. 



The Rev. J. Barbe, speaking of the nests of C. fueifaga, 

 collected at Mergui, the Nicobars, &c, says : a They are of 

 three qualities. The first, of a fine whitish colour, is 

 obtained before the swift has laid her eggs. This quality is 

 sold at Penang from 40 to 50 dollars the cattee.* 

 The second quality, of a brownish colour, is obtained by 

 taking the nest when the bird has laid her eggs. This 

 quality is sold at Penang from 20 to 30 dollars the cattee. 

 The third quality is of a dark colour, mixed with blood and 

 feathers, being obtained by taking the nests when the young 

 birds have flown." Also : " The Chinese say that when the 

 nest is taken before it is completed the bird makes another, 

 but of an inferior quality ; and it appears that it exhausts 

 itself in building the second, the nest being spotted with 

 blood" This would appear to be much the case with C. 

 nidifica, and accords well with the accounts given to me by 

 an old Chinaman. He told me that they had four harvests 

 in the year, one of which was early in October. This would 

 bring the time down to about the age of the nestlings I 



* According to the "Batavian Transactions," for nearly its weight 

 in silver ! 



I 



