. Cassell's book of birds . ng, as it turns its head from side to side, in order to draw out its thread, the undulatinglines so frequently seen upon these remarkable structures, and this process is continued until thenest has assumed the necessary dimensions. The Salanganes method of proceeding is essentially 120 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. similar to that adopted by the Kusappi, but, as we have already said, it builds entirely with thegelatinous threads, without any foreign admixture. We have frequently remarked that such of thesebirds as are well fed exhibit a much more considerable enlargement
. Cassell's book of birds . ng, as it turns its head from side to side, in order to draw out its thread, the undulatinglines so frequently seen upon these remarkable structures, and this process is continued until thenest has assumed the necessary dimensions. The Salanganes method of proceeding is essentially 120 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. similar to that adopted by the Kusappi, but, as we have already said, it builds entirely with thegelatinous threads, without any foreign admixture. We have frequently remarked that such of thesebirds as are well fed exhibit a much more considerable enlargement of the glands than is observablein those that have only been able to obtain a scanty supply of nourishment. This fact explains thereason why so much difference is constantly noticeable both in the size and beauty of these much-prized nests, millions of which are annually consumed, such as are very clear and delicate oftenrealising fabulous prices. Java is particularly rich in this article of commerce, and Epp thus describes. THE WHITE-THROATED PRICKLY-TAILED SWIFT (Acantkylis CaudaCUla). one of the localities in which the nests are most numerously met with:—The Karang Kallong, hesays, is a huge chalk rock, rising perpendicularly from the sea, by which it is surrounded, and isgarrisoned with a force of twenty-five men, whose sole duty is to protect the birds while large tree grows at the edge of the steep, and from this point of view those who venture to lookdown behold the busy workers swarming beneath, appearing in the distance no larger than sides of the precipice contain nine caverns, each of which has its name, and can only be enteredby a man lowered from above; should the rope break, his death is inevitable, and even if thisdanger be escaped, the task of finding the entrance to the cavern is attended with great peril, as thefoaming waves constantly dash high enough to conceal it from view. The natives who engage in this THE GAPERS. 121 terrible undert
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbreh, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds
