7 
VI. THE NEST ITSELF. 
An iiuiucnse amount of fotk-lore most of it based on inaccmute obBervation 
has grown nji) concerning the composition of the nests and the causes of the 
dififerent kinds. 
Kejj'arding the first of tliese it seems unnecessary to do more than qiiote Pruf. 
Alfred Newton who as lon^ ago as 1894 wrote, ".........and tlieir eouiposifciou, 
though announced many years since by Home, whose statement was confirmed by 
Bernstein, has of late been needlessly doubted in favour of the pojiular behef that 
they were made of some kind of seaweed, Ahfae, or other vegetable matter collected 
by the birds. It may be hoped that the examination and analysis by Dr. J. K. 
Green (Journ, of Physiol,, VI, pp. 40—45) have settled that question for all time. 
These remarkable nests consist essentially of mucus, secreted by the salivary 
glands above mentioned which dries and looks like isinglass. Their marketable 
value depends on their colour and purity, for they are often intermixed with 
feathers and other foreign substances. " 
The nest, of whatever quality, consists of the half saucer-like portion {*'Hesh") 
ami the two expanded buttress-like attachments ("feet"). 
From observations and enquiries ma^de on the Kinabataugan River I believe 
the following facts to be well substantiated : — 
The white nests are usually formed entirely of inspissated saliva although 
foreign matters are sometimes inchided. In black nests the saliva is largely mixed 
with feathers etc. The non-edible nests of cijanoptila are composed of moss etc. 
glued together w^ith a small amount of saliva the foot containing rather more than 
the saucer. 
The nests vary in appearance and quality accordmg to which batch they belong 
but not to the extent believed by some natives. The first "white" nests are thick 
and much tinged with red, The second nest is of a better quaHty : it is thinner 
and whiter. The third nest is smaller, very thin and much stained with red. The 
red stain is chiefly noticeable at the base of the nest where it is attached to the 
wall. The building of the first nests takes a long time. They are gradually 
develo[>ed and much stained, no doubt largely by contact with the cave wall 
before they are gathered. The second nest rather thiimer, because of the further 
sustained effort involved on the pai't of the bird, is made more quickly and is 
therefore cleaner. The third nest, also thin, is much stained by the yoniLg 
occupants before it is taken. 
In the case of the black nests the second nests contain more feathers than the 
first nests. They are also thinner, and less valuable : gathering of the third crop 
of black nests is not considered a commercial proposition. 
The commercially ideal nest is very white, entirely free from feathers and 
unstained. Local opiniout and the prices realized support the view, is that Lahad 
Datu nests are better than those of Gomantong although these are very good ; but 
that the best white nests of all come from the tiny islet of Tierhala in Sandakan 
Bay. These latter are of very fine quality. The llesli is very white and the feet 
can also be eaten. In Gomantong nests the feet are usually red and inedible. We 
have seen that these fii'st quality nests are the product of C. franclca mearnsi. 
The Lahad Datu white-nest builder has yet to be identified. 
