THE LIVING WORLD. 
3 X 3 
consider them very differently, declaring the taste insipid if not nauseous. 
The method of preparing the nests for table is to first soak them thoroughly 
in tepid water, 
in which they 
swell and dis¬ 
solve, until 
after a time 
the water and 
nests form a 
pasty consist¬ 
ency, which 
very much re¬ 
sembles gum 
arabic glue. 
This sub¬ 
stance is heat¬ 
ed, also like 
glue, by sus¬ 
pending the 
vessel con¬ 
taining it in 
another filled 
with boiling 
water, and 
when thor¬ 
oughly heat¬ 
ed, is seasoned 
to taste and 
served in 
small cups. 
It is a some¬ 
what singular fact that though the secre¬ 
tion of our common chimney swallow is 
almost identical with that of the esculent 
swallow , yet, notwithstanding the high 
price paid for the latter, no attempt has 
ever been made to market the former. 
The Swifts, of which there are only 
two species, are found native to Africa, 
which country they leave in summer for 
a sojourn of a few months in Europe. 
They are so nearly allied to the swallows 
in appearance and habits, that separate 
description is unnecessary. They take their name from the extraordinary veloc¬ 
ity of their flight, and the agility which they display on the wing. The two 
species are the Cypselus apus and C. melba. Next to the frigate bird the 
swift is the fastest flyer of feathered creation, and is also capable of sustain¬ 
ing its flight for many hours; indeed, it is rarely seen at rest during the 
daytime. 
