. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. THE FIERY-TAILED SUJSf-BIED. 151 in the sun's rays, as if conscious of the fascination which his brilliant costume must exert upon the susceptible hearts of the gentler sex. The Sun-birds usually make their nests in the hollows of decaying trees, or within the centre of thick brushwood. In many cases the nest is concealed with great care ; and in some instances is constructed with consummate art. The material of the nest is generally comjjosed of very fine fibres, interwoven and lined wi
. Animate creation : popular edition of "Our living world" : a natural history. Zoology; Zoology. THE FIERY-TAILED SUJSf-BIED. 151 in the sun's rays, as if conscious of the fascination which his brilliant costume must exert upon the susceptible hearts of the gentler sex. The Sun-birds usually make their nests in the hollows of decaying trees, or within the centre of thick brushwood. In many cases the nest is concealed with great care ; and in some instances is constructed with consummate art. The material of the nest is generally comjjosed of very fine fibres, interwoven and lined with the soft cottony down that is found in the seed vessels of many plants, and ingeniously set round with various lichens, so as to give it a close resemblance to the tree in which it is placed. One species has even been known to make a thick spider's web the foundation of its nest, and to cover it so completely with little bits of moss, lichens, paper, cloth, and all kinds of miscellaneous substances, as to destroy its nest- like ajspearance, and make it look like a chance bundle of scraps entangled in the branches. When taken young, the Sun-birds are very susceptible to human influence, rapidly becoming tame, and learning to fly about the room and take their food from the hand of their owners with charming familiarity. It has already been mentioned that the Sun-bird utters a shrill, sharp whistle, while engaged in food. This, however, is not their only cry, as many of them possess considerable musical powers, their cry, although feeble, being sweet and agreeably undulated. It is thought by many observers that the Sun-birds, while flitting from flower to flower, aid in the work which is so efficiently carried out by bees and similar insects, and help to caiTy the fructifying poUen from one blossom to another. seeking -? r. Among these birds the Fiery- tailed Sun-bird, although not the largest, is yet one of the most striking and beautiful in form and color. This most lovely li
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology
