THE DIAMOND BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 51 



ameter. Here an apartment is formed for the mother 

 and her eggs or nestlings. It is shaped like the in- 

 side of a small globe, and most beautifully formed of 



Diamond bird. 



scraps of the bark of gum trees, woven with a perfec- 

 tion of neatness that is really wonderful, especially 

 when we consider that the process of its construction 

 is carried on without a ray of light to guide its 

 clever little architect. 



The diamond bird is a sprightly pinch of lightly 

 colored feathers, as it flies energetically from bush 



