THE GREEN-TAILED SYLPH. 95 



to thatch the native huts. But it is the 



nut that yields the substance to which I 



refer. 



It yields a clear tasteless juice, that is 



refreshinof as a beverasfe in that hot di- 

 es o 



mate ; but if it is allowed to remain un- 

 touched, it soon becomes white and milky, 

 and in the end sets hard and solid, like 

 ivory. 



This is the vegetable ivory of which so 

 many toys and fancy articles are made. If 

 the vegetable ivory is put in water it will 

 soften ; but on being taken out, it quickly 

 becomes hard agfain. It is so like the 

 ivory of the elephant's tusks, that it can- 

 not be distinguished from it. 



A beautiful bird lives in this part of the 

 w^orld, and frequents the banks of the 

 great rivers. 



It belongs to the tribe of Humming- 

 Birds that have tails more or less forked. 



