GOLDEN TAIL. 235 



encircling the head. These feathers are not of 

 their natural colour. They belong to some of the 

 transformed Parrots of which I have spoken, and 

 are very highly prized. Nothing but actual 

 necessity will induce an Indian to part with his 

 head-dress. 



The ladies of Brazil imitate this fashion of 

 wearing the feathers of birds. They love to adorn 

 themselves with flowers, made of the bright- 

 coloured plumage that so delights the Indian. 



And not one of the flowers, thus artificially pro- 

 duced, can vie with those made from the breasts 

 and the throats of the Humming-Birds. These 

 exquisite ornaments can hardly be described. In 

 the bonnet, or amid the hair, they flash and 

 sparkle with wonderful brilliance. The emerald, 

 the topaz, all the famous jewels of the East seem 

 to pale before them. 



In the Picture, you see one of these gems of 

 Nature, that inhabits the forests of Brazil. It is 

 called the " Golden Tail ; " and dazzles the eye with 

 the swiftness of its movements. 



The Golden Tail Humming- Bird wears a crown 



