EDIBLE BIRDS NESTS. 
J 3 tree, the "nest being so small that it cannot 
'tj., by Qjjg standing on the ground beneath, 
l'® Composed externally of fine green moss ; f 
® lined with soft down, collected cither from the 
k ‘a - ; 
H !. > is ( 
lSV° '^°'riposed externally of fine green moss ; and has 
\ „ linci . 1 .- 
fesiiis, 
.llip 
It is 
J great mullien, or from silk grass. The eggs, 
' tile female lays two, are white, and of tlie size of 
Ills stay at the Brazils, Mr. Forbes visited almost 
J'licre .'®*y ''alley in the neighbourhood of St. Sebastian, 
he observes, “ ihoasand.s of nature's diovisiers, 
all the brilliancy of tropical jilumage, enlivened 
d*lcst orange groves ; and the humming-bird, ihu 
^ btg “4d most lovely of the feathered race, buzzed like 
Af]’ "'hile sipping the nectarenus dow from the blossoms 
Nothing can exceed the delicacy of tliese little 
S|rH6s - - a 
iNtid 'tspeeially of that which, from its nuuutencss, i.s 
V it, ,%-l>ird ; its bill and legs are not thicker lhaii a 
Xu- nead, tufted with glossy jet, varies with every 
fdiit shades of green and purple; the breast is of a 
colour: ^ ‘ 
is 
^ ^.'eiT fealherj when viewed through a 
' appears as if fringed wUli silver^ and spotted 
iuDlRLE BIRDS NKSTS. 
Interesting subjects whidi still remain open for 
tb^ haliits and constitution of the iniiuKDo 
t'*’ small swallow which forms the edible 
'irj.*'iste,,^'®% exported in large quantities from Java and 
^ WVi ill I.I.N.-W - 
iQj. lor tlie Chinese market. 
These birds 
rij -'ll j '-‘kcs observes, in his history of Javti, not only 
thecliftsand caverns of the south coast of 
inhabit tlie fissures and caverns of several of 
and hills in the interior of the country. 
aitis 
V °l>servation wdiich has been made in Java, it has 
O I® 'I tliat the mucilaginous substance of which the 
f °‘^'®cd, is not, as has been generally supposed, 
V** ocean. The birds, it is true, generally 
\J*'ith ,i®^''’ctns in the vicinity of the sea, as agreeing 
V*>t fof habits, and affording tliem the most con- 
\ to which to attach their nests ; but several 
® iQUnd inland, at a distance of forty or fifty milei 
