166 BIRDS' NESTS 



Another leaf-suspended nest is that of the Saw-billed 

 Humming-bird {Grypus ncevius). In this case the 

 materials are chiefly fibres woven in a net -like 

 manner, the inner foundation, however, being more 

 compact, and made of tiny leaves and moss fibres. 

 Another and exceptionally interesting type of nest is 

 well represented by that of the Fiery Topaz {Topaza 

 pyra). It is funnel or horn shaped, and saddled on 

 the upper side of a bunch of twigs, most of which are 

 interwoven with the lower part of the nest. The 

 materials are almost like leather in appearance, and 

 bear a very close resemblance in colour to the twigs 

 that support them. These are a certain kind of 

 fungus {Boletus). Lastly, we may allude to the 

 nests made by some of the Hill Stars (Oreotrochilus). 

 These are hammock - shaped structures made of 

 lichens or moss, vegetable downs, and feathers, and 

 attached to the face of some rock, on one side only, 

 by spiders' webs. In some cases the upper part of 

 the nest is protected by an overhanging ledge of 

 rock. The Sappho Comet (Cometes sparganurus) 

 weaves a nest of fibres and moss, lined with hair, 

 and sometimes attaches it to the sides of a wall, or 

 to some pendant twig, where it is sheltered by a 

 ledge of rock above it. Some other of the Hill Stars 

 make exceptionally big nests, as large as a man's 

 head, with a tiny cup at the top for the eggs. 

 Another species, the Mellisuga minima, one of the 

 smallest known, not much bigger than a bumble-bee, 



