Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-13

are made by species cf swallow peculiar to
those islands, Known in natural history a hiru'I
do escntenta. They made in the same form
as the ne sts of other swallows, but instead OF
mud they are m de of glutinous substance
strongly resembling sing!ass in appearance and
in texture.
w nat the substance is does not seem to have
been fully ascertalneL, some MAINTAINING that II
is Composed of sea-foam other m arl;4e pro-
ducts Will Others supposa that II is exuded
from the mouth Of the bird, and is tie product
of iJs own food which has beer ~hollv Cr partly
diges;ed The nests are not Obtained without
considerable Labor. Being usually fouud IN
deep caves along the coasts, they are often IT.
accessible, excepting by the use of ladders from
below or above.
The most remarkable and productive caves
are situated on the : nth sile of The island OF
Jaya, aud only TO be approached oy a pei
pendIcular descent Of many hundred feet by
ladders made of bamboo and raran overhanging
the sea, which dashes Itself violently against
The shores in which the caves are 70 nd. The
caserns are SO dark that they mus be entered
with torches, and great care is required to pre-
vsut precipitate passage into the raging sur
below.
There ar, df-rent qualities Of the nests
fne best are those which have not been occu-
pied by the birds. being only JUST completed
They are quite clean white, and IN this state
are very ike masses OF pure I>inglass, Ihose
which have been used by the birds for !syiug
their eggs and Matching and rearing their young
are Of course impure, and do no. bring 30 hgh
p ice in the market.
The nests require NJ preparation except that
of drying, af.er which they are asserted into
t-s,, >ecoud, aud third qualities, packed II
BOXES and taken 10 China, the only country al
fordng a market for them. The Jap.nese nav
no taste for the ar ice and even IN Java. here
they chi- iy produced they are not held III
| a IS i'm alton f,r dome~tlc consumption.
| 80 hI%hiy they estimated III CHINA that
al Cauton the common price Is said Il De 50
| $40 the picul, or about thirty dollars pound.
| The sec nd quality brings about twenty dollars
| a pound ana tEe-thifd ten twelve dollars.
| rhey are C c1nsumed only by the W al,hy, anu
| he finest of them are monopollzed by the
court. A great repusnance often expressed
against Their use by those who have never seen
the article but it resembles in appearance and
IN substance many articles OF common con
sumption in this untry, and If all could see,
as We hav had occason to, the origin and man
ufacture of some of those ar icles, We presume
they would have much more charity tor thelr
| Chinese conslnes. 1, Is very old maxim, toe,
! De gustibus MI disputdRdlsm, aud although Il
i SAID 70 have originated Win certain oIG laOy
.u0 had fancy 10 kiss her COW, Ii has receive q
the endorsement OF all the word. Even WHEN
We are most ready TO condemn Others for fancy
ing 4nd eating hat they ike, nevertheless
claim the privilege OF being governed IN our
practice by our tastes. Tastes change, too. very
Greatly, aud perhaps We shall Yet come To using
BIRDS rest soup.-Nep York Journal Of Com
Uerce