518 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



the central pilaster, upon the top of which the whole edifice is sustained. The height 

 of the cabin is at least half a metre. All around, from the top of the central pilaster, 

 and diverging outward therefrom, arranged methodically in an inclined position, are 

 the long stems, their upper ends supported on the apex of the pilaster, and their lower 

 resting on the ground, and thus all around, excepting immediately in front. In tins 

 way is made the cabin, conical in form, and quite regular in the shape the whole pre- 

 sents when the work is completed. Many other stems are then added and interwoven 

 in various ways, so as to make a roof at once strong and impervious to the weather. 

 Between the central pilaster and the insertion in the ground, there is left a circular 

 gallery in the shape of a horse-shoe. The whole structure has a total diameter of 

 about a metre. 



" The long straw-like stems of which it makes use as rafters are the slender and 

 upright branches of a species of orchid (Dendrobiuni), an epiphytal plant that grows 

 in large tufts on the mossy branches of tall trees. They are as slender as fine straws, 

 and are about half a metre in length. These stems retain their small and closely- 

 packed leaves, which are still living, and continue to maintain their life a long while, 

 as is the case with the greater part of the epiphytal orchids of the tropics, and there 

 is little doubt that these sagacious birds select this plant on account of its vitality, 

 purposely to prevent the decay of their dwelling. 



"But the aesthetic tastes of our 'gardener' are not restricted to the construction of 

 a cabin. Their fondness for flowers and for gardens is still more remarkable. 

 Directly in front of the entrance to their cabin is a level place occupying a superficies 

 about as large as that of the structure itself. It is a miniature meadow of soft moss, 

 transported thither, kept smooth and clean, and free from grass, weeds, stones, and 

 other objects not in harmony with its design. Upon this graceful green carpet are 

 scattered flowers and fruit of different colors, in such a manner that they really pre- 

 sent the appearance of an elegant little garden. The greater number of these orna- 

 ments appear to be accumulated near the entrance to the cabin. The variety of the 

 objects thus collected is very great, and they are always of brilliant colors. Not only 

 does the Amblyornis select its ornaments from among flowers and fruit, but showy 

 fungi and elegantly-colored insects are also distributed about the garden and within 

 the galleries of the cabin. When these objects have been exposed so long as to lose 

 their freshness, they are taken from the abode, thrown away, and replaced by others." 



As the first naturalist who saw the wonderful birds-of-Paradise, long-billed and 

 short-billed ones, in their native forests, Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace's name is so 

 closely connected with the history of these marvels of living beauty, and our knowl- 

 edge of their habits and peculiarities is to such a degree due to his observations, that 

 we shall have to follow his account of them as near as possible, using his own words, 

 unable as Ave are to improve upon them. We must limit the remarks, however, to 

 such species only of which we are able to present figures, viz., the two cuts inserted 

 in the text, and the plate facing this page, though these only represent five species out 

 of a total number of nearly three dozen. 



When the earliest European voyagers reached the Moluccas in search of cloves 

 and nutmegs, which were then rare and precious spices, they were presented with the 

 dried skins of birds so strange and beautiful as to excite the admiration even of those 

 wealth-seeking rovers. The Malay traders gave them the name of 'manuk dewata,' 

 or God's birds; and the Portuguese, finding that the skins had no feet or wings, and 

 not being able to learn anything authentic about them, called them ' passaros de sol,' 



