54 THE MARVELLOUS HUMMING-BIRD. 



place of rain. At a certain season of the 

 year there comes a veil over the sky, and 

 a kind of ceaseless drizzle takes place. 



The drizzle, unpleasant as it must be, 

 falls on the barren places and dry arid 

 plains with all the blessing of dew or of 

 rain. They become green and fertile, and 

 the whole land rejoices. 



Myriads of sea-birds are found on the 

 shore ; and on some islands close by, suc- 

 cessive generations have made their home 

 for centuries. 



As no rain falls, the droppings of the 

 birds have been accumulating for ages, 

 and would remain undisturbed, if man had 

 not found out their value. His ships go 

 constantly to fetch away the bird-manure, 

 or guano, as it is called. It is of the 

 greatest benefit to the farmer, and used by 

 him to enrich his land. Not a mine of 

 gold or silver could be more important. 



