58 THE SUMMEK RED BIRD. 



fly by day, instead of during the darkness of night. 

 When night comes they dive into the woods, as 

 if to roost ; and their peculiar note may be heard 

 very plainly. The female bird seems to be re- 

 peating the words " Chicky, chucky," over and 

 over again. But her partner has a loud and rather 

 agreeable whistle, like a shake on some musical 

 instrument. 



The female bird is seldom seen ; and her plain 

 costume is hardly to be distinguished from the 

 foliage amid which she hides herself. But the 

 brilliant plumage of her mate flashes and glances 

 hither and thither as he moves about, and renders 

 him an object of the greatest beauty. He is in- 

 deed of the number of beautiful birds ! 



The nest of the Summer Eed Bird is fixed OD 

 some forked branch of a tree. The birds choose 

 often a tree on the open road, or in some part of 

 the wood that has been cleared. The nest is made 

 in rather a slovenly manner, of dried stalks and 

 weeds. It is so loosely fixed that a sharp blow 

 may shake it off. The eggs are of a light blue 

 colour, and the parent birds sit upon them by 



