. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . riff. 212.—The Alpine Swilt i^Ci/pscLus melha, Wood). may be mentioned, so famous over the world for its edible bird inhabits the rocks and caverns of the sea-shore inSumatra and Java. When building it eats of the plant calledfucus, which abounds in these regions; this is metamorphosed inthe birds stomach, and afterwards disgorged, to fabricate thewalls of its nest. The fucus thus devoured forms the nutritivesubstance so eagerly sought after by the Ea
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . riff. 212.—The Alpine Swilt i^Ci/pscLus melha, Wood). may be mentioned, so famous over the world for its edible bird inhabits the rocks and caverns of the sea-shore inSumatra and Java. When building it eats of the plant calledfucus, which abounds in these regions; this is metamorphosed inthe birds stomach, and afterwards disgorged, to fabricate thewalls of its nest. The fucus thus devoured forms the nutritivesubstance so eagerly sought after by the Eastern gourmet. The 538 PASSEEINES. consumption of tlie nest of the Salangane (Fig. 244) in Cliina, inspite of its higli price, is very considerable. From the days ofBuffon there have been exported from the coast of Cochin Chinafour millions of them annually ; and the proprietors of one cavernin the island of Java receive annually fifty thovisand florins forrent alone. The distinctive features of the Goatsuckers (Caiirimulgus) are a. Fig. 213.—The Salangane Swallow {Hirundo esculenta, Wliite). short, much-depressed bill; the body small in proportion to theplumage; the neck short; the head large, broad, and depressed ;the eyes very large and broad; the feet very small; tarsipartially feathered; toes four, the lower surface broad andflattened, the anterior toes connected by basal membranes ; clawsmoderate, arched, and compressed. The plumage is full, soft,downy, and blended, like the Owls; the wings have the secondand third quills longest; tail long and rounded. Almost all thespecies have strong bristles along the base of the upper mandible, GOATSUCKERS. 539 and some have the feathers of the face radiated, like those of theOwls. The Goatsuckers are solitary birds, living generally in pairs,sleeping during the day, and issuing from their nest with thesetting sun, or possibly earlier in gloomy weather, to chase thecrejDuscular and nocturnal insects on which they feed. Theymove s
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