Show THE EDIBLE BIRDS NEST 0 demand exceeds supply and corn com modify sells as high as 25 a pound edible birds bird s nests nesta are found in the islands oft off tile the coast of slim slam and are athe abe products ot of a species of birds be boning to the family of aft sats efti the pests consist almost entirely of the val salivary ivary secretion of these birds bird S whose salivary glands are much more developed than those of the ordinary swift ewitt the season reason for the gathering of the nests nesta begins in april and ends in n september the female bird occasionally assist ed by the male makes the nest about three months are spent by the birds in completing their first nest which aich la Is taken by the nest gatherer before eggs are laid in it then the birds immediately begin to make an other nest which Is finished in about SO 30 days and which Is also taken finally a third nest Is made in about three months in which the bird Is allowed to ta rear its ita offspring after which this nest Is also gathered each family of birds thus thua furnishes furn lahea three nests in one season the nests tak en at the beginning of the season are considered the best in quality most of these edible nests are con fumed by the chinese who regard them not only as aa a great table dell cacy but also as a valuable tonic medicine in neurasthenia and aulmon ary disorders diso iders it la Is said that the demand in Hong hongtong kong for the nests ex creeds the supply and that prices range from 15 to 25 per pound ac cording to quality |