THE KING S BIKDS. Ill 



forest have lived in successive generations in the 

 Tropical and flowery land of Mexico. Long time 

 ago Mexico was a kingdom ruled by its own 

 monarch, and rich in gold and silver and precious 

 stones. In those days the palace of the sovereign 

 might almost be called a palace of gold ; and the 

 pomp and splendour of the court baffled descrip- 

 tion. But perhaps the fairest and loveliest among 

 the palace possessions was the collection of beauti- 

 ful birds kept there in all their living splendour. 



The king had two great houses fitted up for 

 this purpose, and the utmost pains and care were 

 taken to supply the captives with food and every 

 necessary. A staff of attendants was employed to 

 watch over them ; and you will smile when I tell 

 you that a number of doctors were always at hand 

 to give advice or medicine in case the birds were 

 sick. 



A brilliant assembly indeed were the birds. 

 Here were Trogons, Humming-Birds, Parrots, 

 Pigeons, and Sun-Birds. And here, distinct from 

 these, were all the birds of prey and the water- 

 fowl, and every feathered creature that could be 



