^42 AFKICAN SUN-BIKDS. 



Mingling with them is the grotesque orchis, 

 with its bee or bird-like flower, and which covers 

 the meadows, and reaches even to the foot of the 

 mountains. Geraniums of every size and colour 

 grow like weeds, and roses are in the same pro- 

 fusion. 



Many of the plants and shrubs yield a sweet 

 and sugary juice. The very gum of the branches 

 is sweet, and in some species can be used as sugar- 

 candy. The natives break it off and eat it. 



The Sun-Bird is very fond of a tree called by 

 the natives the sugar-tree, because at the bottom 

 of the flowers it is sure to find a quantity of 

 sugary juice. People gather the flowers of the 

 sugar-tree, and boil down the juice, and use it, as 

 we do sugar, for preserving fruit. 



Numbers of little Sun-Birds are always to be 

 seen perched upon the flowers, sipping honey, or 

 making havoc among the insects who, like them- 

 selves, are fond of sugar. 



And in less fertile spots -even in the waste 

 places with which Africa abounds many curious 

 plants contrive to exist. One of these plants has 



