INTRODUCTORY. 13 



the large leaves, that overhangs it, and 

 forms a canopy. The nest is sometimes 

 made entirely of thistle-down ; and the 

 prickly burs of the thistle are stuck out- 

 side to protect it. But moss and cotton 

 are used quite as often, and dead leaves 

 woven in amonof them. 



The cotton grows upon a tree called the 

 silk-cotton tree, that is a native of tropi- 

 cal countries. It is a very large tree 

 indeed, and is looked upon by the black 

 people with great veneration. They never 

 venture to throw a stone at it ; and when 

 they are obliged to cut it down, they pour 

 some wdne at its root, in order to prevent 

 it being angry, and doing them any harm ! 

 It is one of the few trees that shed their 

 leaves ; for a tropical forest is always green 

 and full of foliage, as the new leaves come 

 out before the old ones drop. 



But, every other year, the silk-cotton 



