SUN-BIKDS IN JAVA. 169 



spider is arrayed in as rich a costume as the Sun- 

 Bird or the Humming-Bird. 



It has stripes of yellow, black, orange, and 

 green ; and marks and characters of the most gro- 

 tesque description are painted on its body. 



These brilliantly-marked spiders live among the 

 flowers and foliage. Those of the species that 

 lurk in gloomy places, wear a dark and sombre 

 attire, as if in unison with their habits. 



One spider with a black body and scarlet sides, 

 lives on the seeds of a tree which are marked in 

 exactly the same manner as itself. 



The spiders have many enemies ; for they are 

 not all protected by spines. In Java there is a 

 kind of sparrow that lives almost entirely on 

 spiders, and is named from this very habit. The 

 bird has a long slender bill curved backwards ; 

 and it can search for the spider, and drag it from 

 the most secure hiding-place. 



There is a curious sight often met with in Java. 



The traveller who approaches a village may 

 happen to see a tree covered with black objects, 

 which he supposes to be the fruit. 



