STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 47 



the trees wliicli grew in the centre. From the 

 edges of these tiles to the branches of the trees 

 in the garden, multitudes of spiders had spread 

 their webs, so closely and compactly that they 

 resembled one vast net. I frequently watched, 

 with much amusement, the cautious manoeuvres 

 of the humming birds, who, advancing under 

 the web, entered the various cells in search of 

 flies. As the larger spiders did not tamely 

 surrender their prey, the thief was often com- 

 pelled to retreat. Being within a few feet of 

 the parties, I could notice distinctly all they 

 did. The active little bird generally passed 

 once or twice round the court, as if to re- 

 connoitre his ground, and then commenced his 

 attacks by going carefully under the nets of 

 the wily insect, and seizing, by surprise, the 

 smallest or feeblest of the flies that were en- 

 tangled in the web. In ascending the traps of 

 the spider, gTcat care and skill were required. 

 Sometimes he had scarcely room for his little 

 wings to perform their office, and the least 

 deviation would have entangled him in the 

 machinery of the web, and caused his ruin. 

 It was only the works of the smaller spider 

 that he dare attack, as the largest rose to the 

 defence of their citadels, when the cunning 

 enemy would shoot off like a sunbeam, and 



