118 THE PARADISE FLY-CATCHER. 



joints that are found in the grasses. From each 

 joint springs a set of branches, which strike out 

 at right-angles to the stem ; and these divide into 

 others, and so on, until the last branch ends in a 

 leaf. In the thicket I am describing all these 

 different branches form a compact mass, crossing 

 and recrossing each other, like a gigantic piece of 

 net-work. At the top of the stem, there droop 

 gracefully over, the lovely plumes of the bamboo, 

 which are of the brightest green, and curl like 

 feathers. 



A forest of bamboo is one of the most wonder- 

 ful sights in nature. 



The Indian uses the bamboo for every purpose. 

 He makes his house, his bows and arrows, his 

 furniture, all his possessions, in fact, of bamboo. 

 And the glorious thicket of bamboo is like a vast 

 awning for the beautiful birds of the Tropics. 

 Under its deep cool shadow they can live and 

 rejoice. 



The Paradise Fly-catchers make their home 

 here, as in a bower. 



They feed on the insects that abound on every 



