Thefe nefts are found in vaft numbers in certain caverns, in
various ides in the Soolo Archipelago *, fituated between longitude
117 and 120, latitude 5 and 7 ; particularly in three fmall ifles, or
rather rocks; in the-caverns of which the nefts are found fixed to
the fides in aftonilhing numbers. They are alfo found in amazing
quantities on a fmall ifland called Toe, in the ftraits of Sunda;
the caverns of which are lined with the nefts : but nowhere in
greater abundance than about Croee, near the fouth end of Suma~
tra, four miles up a river of that name. But they are not peculiar
to the above places ; for they are likewife common from.
Java to Cochinchina on the north, and from the point of Sumatra
weft, to New Guinea on the eaft; where the fea is faid to be
covered with a vifeous fubftarree like half-melted glue, which the
bird is fuppofed either to take up from the furface with its bilT
during flight, or to pick it from the rocks when, left there by
the waves.
The beft nefts, or thole of a pure white, and free from mixture,-,
fell in China from 1000 to. 15,00 dollars the pick -|-;, the black, and'
dirty ones for only twenty dollars. The laft are fuppofed to arife
from age* mixed with dirt, or feathers ; and the gatherers bean
down all the black ones they can get at, in hopes that,, from the;
neceffity of the birds making frelh nefts,. they may. meet with the-
more valuable ones at the next gathering. It is faid, that the
Dutch alone export from Batavia ioqo picles of thefe nefts every
year J, which are brought from, the ifles. of Cochinchina, and' thole.-
* Fornefti.
The picJe, orpekul, is.abeut iz^ pounds;.- or, as Dampler fays, 300ptcleb:
are equal to 396 pounds. Englijb weight.—-See Voy% vol. ii. p. 132%
X OJbui» lying;
lying to the eaft of them. It is much to be wondered, that,
among, other luxuries imported by us from the Eajl, the ufe
of thefe nefts lhould not have found a way to our tables : as yet
being fo.fcarce in England as to be kept as rarities in the cabinets
of collectors..
The bird itfelf, at Sumatra, is known by the name of Layong-
layong* . .
La grande Hirondelle brune à ventre tacheté ou L’Hirondelle dés blés. Bnf. 29:
ni/ vi. p. 694. WHEAT SW.
L ’Hirondelle deL’Ifle Bourbon, PI. eut. 544. f. 2. a variety..
g .L Z E of^he Swifts Bill black : the plumage, above blackiftr Diicurnoii.
brown ; beneath grey, marked with longitudinal brown Ipots :
tail.even at the.end : legs black..
This inhabits the IJle of France -, frequenting places, fown with P l a c e a n d
|wheat, and. glades of woods ; afiefting elevated fituations, and Manners..
frequently feen perched on trees and Hones : follows herds of cattle
for. the fake of flies , which furround them,,and not unfre—
qiientlyfeen.in ,th.e.wake of.lhips in.great numbers, in the road
near the ille,, no doubt for the fame purpofe.. Frequently ob-
ferved of. evenings about the-clefts in. the mountains, where it is -
faid to pafs the night; and to make the nefts of ftraw and feathers;
faying two eggs, of a grey colôur, dotted with brown.
This bird isknowo.in the IJle of,France.by the name atflirm --
dette des blés, or Wheat Swallow.
That mentioned above, in the Planches enluminées, .differs a :
f'Ri/!nrj of Sumatran
little ; ;