108 BIRDS NESTS KARANG BDELONG. 
layers close to each other. They place them at different heights from 
50 to 300 feet, as they find room, and leave no holes or suit¬ 
able spaces open, provided they are dean and dry; for when the 
avails prove damp they forsake their nests. When the sGa at¬ 
tains a high level, which is usually accompanied by a strong surf 
beating against the cliffs, a percolation of water is cflsed which 
is, in the highest degree, prejudicial. 
In the mornings at break of day the birds fly out with a great 
noise to seek their food, to the neighbouring places in the east mon¬ 
soon or dry season, but in the west monsoon or rainy season, 
they do not go far. They return to their caves .about 4 o’clock 
in the afternoon. They feed upon different kinds of bloodless in¬ 
sects, hovering above the stagnant waters, for which their wide 
open beak is very useful. 
Their greatest enemies are the birds ulamj and alap-alap r 
who pull the young swallows out of the holes and seize many as 
They fly out of the caves. 
They form the nests, by vomiting the strongest and best fragments 
of the food which they have eaten. 
When the nests have been all plucked, the entrances are clos¬ 
ed with bambu fences, the doors are sealed, and the rattan ladders 
are brought back to the store house. 
The nests in the store house arc, some days afterwards, weighed, 
^and packed in hampers (<geboks , each 25 catties), made very tight 
with cross ropes, and sealed with the stamp of the overseer. 
Pieces of paper are placed on each hamper, with the number and 
The nett weight of the nests written on it. 
All this having been done, the hampers are surrounded with cocoa- 
nut leaves, prepared in the manner of kadjang mats. Every two 
hampers are then made fast to a piece of bambu (pikol-an) provided 
with two props, in order that, when resting on the way, the hampers 
may not touch the ground. They are besides covered with pi- 
nang bark so that when it rains the water can run off. Finally they 
are all sent to Surakarta in order that they may be there sorted. 
The evening before the birds nests are sent off another feast 
is given, and on the following morning, all the coolies depart with 
their hampers for Surakarta amidst the playing of the gamelang and 
shouts of hurrah* 
