A BIRD-PARADISE. 



MANY of the islands in the Pacific Ocean are so 

 small that no people live on them ; but they are 

 large enough for multitudes of birds to make them 

 their homes. Winter never comes to these islands, 

 and the birds spend their whole lives on the same 

 spot where they and their forefathers were born. 



Occasionally it happens that vessels touch at these 

 islands, that their crew may get fresh water or explore 

 the shores and draw maps such as you have in your 

 geographies. When these sailors or map-makers land, 

 they find to their surprise that the birds have no fear 

 of their strange visitors. 



Instead of flying to the tops of trees or hiding in 

 bushes, the birds walk about men's feet or light on 

 their shoulders. When some men rode on horses, the 

 birds lighted on the backs of the horses and picked at 

 the saddles to see what these new contrivances were. 

 When one explorer was picking up shells along the 

 beach, a little bird followed him, almost snatching the 

 shells out of his hands in its curiosity to know what 

 the man was doing. 



Why were the birds so fearless ? They were no more 

 stupid than their cousins here. Their courage came 



