80 THE CRIMSON TOPAZ. 



magic, from the branch or stem on which 

 they grow. 



And others have a strange and almost 

 mournful aspect, as they hang from the 

 tree like raofo-ed tufts of hair. 



They are known by the name of the 

 ''Monkey's Beard," or the ''Old Man's 

 Beard." 



The thick black filaments of the plant 

 are like horse-hair, and are used by the 

 natives as such, to stuff their cushions and 

 mattresses. 



The birds find in this curious parasite a 

 material ever at hand of which they can 

 build their nests. 



There is a little bird dressed in black 

 and orange, and that is called the Balti- 

 more. It picks up a long thread of the 

 " beard," and fixes it by either end to a 

 branch. This is the beginning of the nest. 

 Then comes the other bird with another 



