SEWING. 407 



In the illustration an ordinary needle an mread are seen on 

 the right-hand side, and on the left are two nests of the Tailor- 

 bird, taken from specimens in the British Museum. 



The mode of sewing is strangely like that which is employed 

 by the uncivilised furriers who have been described, and much 



TAILOR-BIRDS AND NE8TS. SEWING CLOTH. 



superior to that which is seen in many other parts of the world. 

 For example, I have a West African quiver made of hide sewn 

 together with stitches infinitely more clumsy than those of the 

 Tailor-bird. 



The reader will also remark that I might have placed this 

 singular nest in the category of beds, on account of the soft 

 and warm lining on which the young repose. I have, however, 

 thought that it more properly belongs to the present division of 

 the subject. 



Sometimes we require a temporary as well as a permanent 

 shelter from the elements, and procure it by means of the 

 Umbrella. 



In many countries, especially those where the climate is hot, 

 the Umbrella is almost exclusively used, as, indeed, its name 

 denotes, to preserve its owner from the direct sunbeams, and is, 

 in fact, the " parasol " of our European ladies. It also is a mark 

 of dignity, the amount and quality of its decorations indicating 

 rank, even though the man who sits under its shade is clothed 

 in a modest cotton cloth wrapped round his waist. 



For the purpose of shielding the bearer from the sun the 

 Umbrella was first introduced, and the introducer incurred the 

 obloquy usual in such cases. Now, however, the Umbrella has 



