I 25 I 
FROCMOUTHS. 
The Frog mouths are called thus from their enormously 
wide and gaping mouth. They resemble the Nightjars in their 
mottled and vermiculated plumage. A species from the Philip- 
pines is exhibited {Bairachoslomus sfellatus). 
NIGHTJARS OR GOATSUCKERS. 
The Nightjars or Goatsuckers are nocturnal birds, 
resembling Owls in their habits and plumage. They live on 
insects. The Malay Nightjar or B. tukan kayu or Segan 
{Caprhmdgm macnirus) is common in the compounds in the 
midst of Singapore, and its cry of Tock-tock-tock, resembling 
the sound produced by chipping wood, is familiar to everyone. 
The Eared Nightjar or Tabau tabau {Lyucorms temminck't) differs 
from it by having tufts of feathers above the eyes. 
SWIFTS. 
The Swifts are thus called because they are probably the 
swiftest of all birds. They resemble Swallows so much in their 
outer appearance that the Malays have only one name ' Burong 
layang layang ' for both. They have short and wide beaks. 
The Malay House Swift {Cypselus subfurcaUts) lives near 
and in human habitations, and the Palm Swift ( Tachyornis 
infunmtm) buiJds its nest on the underside of the leaves of the 
Fan palm. Larger are the Spiny-tailed Swifts. They are dis- 
tinguished by the rigid shafts of the tail feathers the ends of which 
project beyond the web. This is well seen in the Brown-necked 
Spine-tail {Ckaetura indtca). Of iconomic importance are the 
various species of Swiftlets [CoUocalia). Their nests are compos- 
ed of the dried secretions of the salivary glands, these glands 
being in both sexes specially developed during the breeding 
season. These are the edible birds nests so much esteemed by 
the Chinese. The nests are cup-shaped and are found in caves 
and cliffs chiefly along the sea coast. They are of whitish 
colour, resembling isinglass. The best nests, i.e. those least 
mixed with foreign substances, are those of the Little Grey- 
rumped Swiftlet [Coihcalia francica), and next in value come 
perhaps those of the Indian Edible-nest Swiftlet {C. fuciphaga), 
although its nests always contain some extraneous matter like 
grass and feathers. Unfortunately neither of these birds is in 
the collection. Exhibited are Hume's Swiftlet (C. inmminata) 
and Horsefield's Swiftlet [C. linchiX from the Perak hills, 
and C. natalist from Christmas Island. 
