BIRDS AND THEIR PARLOURS 165 



with these rich jewels of Nature. Song excepted, 

 she has showered upon them all her gifts collec- 

 tively, gifts which are accorded to other birds 

 singly. Lightness, vivacity, speed, grace, and bril- 

 liant colours, have all been bestowed upon these tiny 

 favourites. Every jewel sparkles in their plumage 

 plumage untarnished by the dust of earth, as, 

 all their life long, they seldom touch the ground; 

 they dwell evermore in the air, fluttering from 

 flower to flower, the freshness and brightness where- 

 of belong to them alone; they sip the nectar, and 

 inhabit only those heavenly zones where blossom 

 follows upon blossom in an everlasting spring." 



Only a rich imagination can think of a human 

 queen with such luxury and beauty; and no beauty 

 parlour can boast of such perfumed baths as these 

 divine sun-gems find conveniently at hand in every 

 garden and tropical forest in the regions where they 

 live. One is reminded of the English poet's words : 



"Bright birds of the sun, how has every hue 

 Of the sky and the rainbow been lavished on you! 

 Where are the robes that a monarch enfold, 

 Compared with your feathers of silver and gold? 

 Ye are richly arrayed, without toil and care, 

 And the flower-bells furnish your daily fare: 

 A feast every morning before you is spread; 

 Ye are gloriously clothed, and luxuriously fed. 

 And ye drink the pure nectar, and cry te-re, 

 As ye fly from the flower to the blossoming tree. 



