136 SUN-BIRDS. 



And what you will think very strange she 

 has even been known to fix it to a spider's web ! 

 The spiders that live in hot countries are very 

 large and strong, and their webs are more like 

 gauze than cobwebs. So the tiny nest of the 

 Sun-Bird, as light as a feather, may very well be 

 fixed to one of them without breaking the threads. 



Nothing can be more gaudy than these brilliant 

 little creatures, that sport about with the gaily- 

 dressed birds of the Tropics. And, like most 

 other birds, they put on their best attire at that 

 season of the year when they choose their partners, 

 and begin to think of building their nests. Then 

 their brightest tints are worn, and they are orna- 

 mented with tufts and crests that afterwards dis- 

 appear. Indeed, on this occasion they are said 

 to wear " their wedding-dress." 



