"There are two places in the neighbourhood of Batavia where they are found in great abundance; the one, Calappa-Nongal, is about ten miles to the south of the town; the other, Sampia, is a little more distant towards the south-west, but both lie in that elevated range which takes its direction by the sea coast, and which appears to be different from the great chain which pushes itself into the country, and traverses the whole island. Besides these principal places, there are many others, both in the same district, and at a very great distance from the coast, where these birds are found, though in fewer numbers; and there are even some which are carefully concealed by those of the inhabitants who are acquainted with them. "There are two bird mountains, called Goa (caverns) by the inhabitants of Java, which are insulated rocks, hollow in the middle, and pierced by a great number of openings, for the most part of sufficient size easily to admit a man; others are more difficult of access, and some so small that nature seems to have intended them for the security of those little animals. These rocks are composed of a grey calcareous stone and white marble, and are covered with a multitude of lofty trees of different kinds. To the interior of these caverns the birds fix their nests in horizontal ranges, and so close to each other, that, generally speaking, they join; they build them at different heights, from fifty to three hundred feet, higher or lower as they can find a berth; there is not a single hole, or convenient spot sufficiently dry and proper, which is not occupied; but if the surface is in the smallest degree wet, or even damp, the birds immediately abandon it. "At break of day the whole of the birds take wing with a great noise, and in the dry season immediately shoot up so high in the atmosphere, in search of their food, as to be soon lost to the sight: they return about four in the afternoon, and again take shelter in their holes, to which they confine themselves during the rest of the day, those excepted which are hatching. On the other hand, during the rainy season, it has been often remarked that they never ramble very far from their holes, particularly in the government of Java, where the rocks even border close on the sea. "They feed on all the varieties of insects which are found hovering over stagnated waters, and they easily secure them by means of the extended opening of which their beak is capable. Their most formidable enemy is a bird of prey, which catches them in great numbers as they escape from their holes, and which the inhabitants are very careful to keep at a distance as much as possible by shooting them.