1628 THE STORY OF THE UNIVERSE 



a special retreat in the neighborhood of the bower. 

 These shelters are always situated in the most re- 

 tired parts of the forest, and are placed on the earth 

 at the foot of trees. Several couples work together 

 to raise the edifice, the males performing the chief 

 part of the work. At first they establish a slightly con- 

 vex floor, made with interlaced sticks, intended to 

 keep the place sheltered from the moisture of the 

 soil. The arbor rises in the centre of this first plat- 

 form. Boughs vertically arranged are interlaced at 

 the base with those of the floor. The birds arrange 

 them in two rows facing each other; they then curve 

 together the upper extremities of these sticks, and 

 fix them so as to obtain a vault. All the prominences 

 in the materials employed are turned toward the out- 

 side, so that the interior of the room may be smooth 

 and the birds may not catch their plumage in it. 

 This done, the little architects, to embellish their re- 

 treat, transport to it a number of conspicuous objects, 

 such as very white stones from a neighboring stream, 

 shells, the bright feathers of the paroquet, whatever 

 comes to their beak. All these treasures are arranged 

 on the earth, before the two entries to the bower, so 

 as to form on each side a carpet, which is not smooth, 

 but the varied colors of which rejoice the eye. The 

 prettiest treasures are fixed into the wall of the hut. 

 These objects are intended solely for the delight of 

 these feathered artists. They are very careful also 

 only to collect pieces which have been whitened and 

 dried by the sun. 



Certain humming-birds also, according to Gould, 

 decorate their dwellings with great taste. "They in- 



