GOLDEN TAIL. 69 



the deep forests and open plains, in the 

 gardens and the groves of Brazil. 



But, besides the beautiful birds, the 

 Indian has still another resource for his 

 toilet. The insects, in this land of ra- 

 diant colours, are in their way as splendid 

 as the birds. 



They shine and sparkle like living gold. 

 The Indian will often make his flowers of 

 the lustrous wings of a beetle ; or, treat- 

 ing the insect as if it were a precious 

 stone, will have its body set in gold, like 

 a brooch. And, as if Nature delighted 

 in every form of radiance, and to flash 

 and sparkle with increasing lustre before 

 the eye, here are the whole race of fire- 

 flies, gleaming in the darkness like so 

 many stars. 



The Indian is attracted to them as to 

 the beautiful birds. He captures the liv- 

 ing spark, as it glows with its own light, 



