CATALOaUE. 
105 
from Kapat to Kepito (from October to December), and from Kepito 
to Kesongo (from December to March), tbe shorter periods of three 
months each are adhered to. These shorter periods barely allow the 
birds to complete their nests and the first period of incubation: 
many of the young birds are necessarily destroyed ; but the nests 
themselves are generally of superior quality, and perfectly white. 
During the longer interval of six months, a second progeny is 
allowed to reach maturity: both. broods complete their respective 
nests, and no birds are destroyed. The collection, of course, is 
proportionally large. According to the uniform report of the na- 
tives, the male bird frequently forms a separate nest. The mecha- 
nical contrivances of scaffolding and ladders to reach the nests, the 
risks in collecting them, their disposition in the caverns, and many 
other particulars, are detailed in the works above referred to. 
Both Raffles and Crawfurd estimate the quantity of birds'-nests 
passing annually through the Batavian market to China, at about 200 
pikuls. Of this quantity, about 100 pikuls are the produce of the 
caverns on the south coast of the island, which, according to Baffles, 
yield an annual revenue to the proprietors, the native princes and 
the government jointly (in certain proportions), of 200,000 Spanish 
dollars. About 50 pikuls are from caves belonging to individuals, 
while about 50 pikuls are brought to Batavia from other parts of the 
Archipelago. Besides these, the Suluh Archipelago alone produces 
530 pikuls, and Macassar about 30. The entire quantity of nests 
annually sent to China is worth 1,263,510 Spanish dollars, or 
£284,290. 
" The common prices for birds'-nests at Canton are, for the first 
sort, 3,500 Spanish dollars the pikul, or £5. 10^. Z\cl. per pound ; 
for the second, 2,800 Spanish dollars per pikul ; and for the third, no 
more than 1,600 Spanish dollars." — (Crawfurd, Hist. Ind. Archip. 
III. p. 433.) 
In some parts of China, 40 Spanish dollars have been paid for one 
Jcati — rather more than one pound and a quarter English. Specimens 
were produced at the Great Industrial Exhibition of 1851, valued, 
the first quality, at £3. 2s. 8d. per pound; the second quality, at 
9^. 4^d. per pound ; and the third, 3s. Id. per pound. 
It may be noticed in this place, that no extensive caverns have 
hitherto been indicated by Ornithologists as existing in the interior 
of Continental India, resembling those common in the Archipelago, 
which would constitute a favourable resort to these birds in large 
fiocks, for the construction of nests in society, although the conti- 
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