BIRDS AND THEIR PARLOURS 165 



with these rich jewels of Nature. Song excepted, 

 she has showered upon them all her gifts collec- 

 tively, gifts which are accorded to other birds 

 singly. Lightness, vivacity, speed, grace, and bril- 

 liant colours, have all been bestowed upon these tiny 

 favourites. Every jewel sparkles in their plumage 

 — plumage untarnished by the dust of earth, as, 

 all their life long, they seldom touch the ground; 

 they dwell evermore in the air, fluttering from 

 flower to flower, the freshness and brightness where- 

 of belong to them alone; they sip the nectar, and 

 inhabit only those heavenly zones where blossom 

 follows upon blossom in an everlasting spring." 



Only a rich imagination can think of a human 

 queen with such luxury and beauty; and no beauty 

 parlour can boast of such perfumed baths as these 

 divine sun-gems find conveniently at hand in every 

 garden and tropical forest in the regions where they 

 live. One is reminded of the English poet's words : 



"Bright birds of the sun, how has every hue 

 Of the sky and the rainbow been lavished on you ! 

 Where are the robes that a monarch enfold, 

 Compared with your feathers of silver and gold? 

 Ye are richly arrayed, without toil and care, 

 And the flower-bells furnish your daily fare: 

 A feast every morning before you is spread; 

 Ye are gloriously clothed, and luxuriously fed. 

 And ye drink the pure nectar, and cry te-re, 

 As ye fly from the flower to the blossoming tree. 



