THE FIERY TOPAZ. 555 



The nest which is huilt by the Fiery Topaz is really a wonder- 

 ful structure. 



Its shape is remarkable, and is well shown in the illustration. 

 It is fastened to the branch with extreme care, as is clearly 

 necessary from its general form. The most curious point about 

 the nest is, however, the material of which it is made. "^Vlien it 

 was first discovered no one knew how the bird could have bnilt 



riEIlY TOPAZ AXD HEHMIT, 



SO strange a structure. It looked as if it were made of very 

 coarse buff leather, and was so similar in hue to the branches 

 that suiTounded it, that it seemed more like a natural excrescence 

 than a bird's nest. The reason for tliis similitude was simple 

 enough. It was made of a natural excrescence, and therefore 

 resembled one. 



When the Fiery Topaz wishes to build a nest, it goes off to 

 the trees, and searches for a kind of fungus belonging to the 

 genus boletus, and with this singular material it makes its home. 

 It is tough, leathery, thick and soft, and in some curious manner 



