"The salanganes are of a blackish grey colour, somewhat inclining to green; but on the back, down to the tail, as well as under the breast, the colour is mouse grey. The whole length of the bird, from the back to the tail, is about four inches and a half; and its height, taken from the beak to the extremity of the foot, three and a quarter inches: its girt is ten and a quarter inches: the longest feathers of the wing are about four inches. The head is flat; but the thickness of the downy feathers which cover it make it appear round, and rather large in proportion to the rest of the body. The beak is large, ending in a sharp point, but hooked like that of a nocturnal bird of prey; its size is augmented by the addition of a naked membrane, similar to parchment, which folds inwards when the beak is shut, but expands with the opening of it, and enables the bird, while on the wing, to seize with greater facility the insects which constitute its food. The eyes are black, and very large; and the tongue not forked, but of the form of an arrow. The ears flat and round, with a small oblong opening, and entirely covered by the downy feathers of the head. The neck very short, as are the legs, and bones of the wings. The thighs entirely covered with feathers; and the lower and more delicate parts of the legs, as well as the feet, provided with a black skin resembling parchment: each foot has four toes, three pointing forwards and one backwards; they are separated from each other even to the root, and the middle one, including the claw, is at least as long as the lower part of the leg; each toe is furnished with a black claw, pointed, hooked, and very long, by means of which it attaches itself, with great facility, to the juttings of the rocks. The tail is at least as long as the body, even including the neck and the head; when it is spread out it has the shape of a wedge, and has ten large feathers; the four first on each side are the longest, and when the tail is closed they extend beyond the others about an inch; the others diminish towards the middle of the tail, and nearly equal the length of the body. This bird is extremely light and delicate; ten of these swallows will only weigh about two ounces and a half. The inhabitants of Java call them lawit, and the mountaineers give them the names of berongdagae or waled.