THE MALAVAK HOUSE-SWIFT 
ting birds will often leave their nests in the middle of the 
aight and take a hurried dash round. Several dozens of nests 
may be found clustered tog^ether, 
[The Malayan house-swift simply swarms in Singapore 
and in the evening just about dusk thousands may be seen 
fluttering about Collyer Quay before tJiey retire to roost and 
uttering their tremulous squeaking cry which is very unlike 
the loud prolonged scream of the comtnon European species. 
It breeds in colonies on rafters under eaves or porticos (many 
used to attempt to nest under the porch of the old General Post 
Office in the town) and lays as a rule two white eggs : the nest 
is made of rubbish such as dried grass, feathers and bits of 
paper stuck together with mud and mucus from the bird's 
salivary glands. 
The famous birds' nest soup, which is such a gastronomic 
delicacy amongst the Chinese and which is really very nutri- 
tious and palatable, is prepared from the little nests of certain 
small species of swifts usually known as svviftlets (Collocalia) 
of which several kinds occur in the Peninsula: the trade is 
of considerable importance nmning into a value of hundreds 
of thousands of dollars annually: most come from Borneo 
and the Dutch Islands: the l>est nests are white and made 
practically entirely of salivary excretions and are no bigger 
than a five-shilling piece; they are found in large numbers in 
caves which are let out to professional "farmers" who handle 
the business : they can always be bought in Singapore but are 
by no means a cheap luxury.— J, A. S. B.], 
1<37] 
