279 



years, or only inontlis, is a problem left to the reader to 

 solve. 



A prominent exhibitor of foreign birds obtained a 

 specimen some years ago, but unfortunately, owing to it 

 having been Avrongly fed before coming into his 

 possession, the bird died. A gentleman in Calcutta has 

 two of these Inrds, which he has kept for two years in 

 perfect liealth and condition in large cages in his sitting 

 room. 



But undoubtedly the most successful instance is 

 that of a gentleman who resided, in China many years 

 ago, who kept an Emerald Bird of Paradise (among a 

 magnificent collection of the rarest foreign birds 

 obtainable), for over nine \'ears ! 



In Bennett's "Wanderings in New vSouth Wales," 

 Vol.11., an exceedingly valuable account is given of this 

 bird. Unfortunately it is far too long to reproduce here, 

 but a few extracts may not be uninteresting. " This 

 elegant creature . . has an arch and impudent look ; 

 it dances about when a visitor approaches the cage, and 

 seems delighted at being made an object of admiration." 

 The bird moulted from May to August of each year, 

 and washed regularly twice daily. " After having per- 

 formed its ablutions, it throws the delicate feathers up 

 nearly over its head, the quills of v^^hich feathers have a 

 peculiar structure, so as to enable the bird to produce 

 this object." These plumes are cleaned by being 

 separately passed gently through the bill, the short 

 brown wings being steadily flapped the while. It was 

 fed on "boiled rice mixed with soft egg, together with 

 plantains and living insects of the grasshopper tribe." 



I cannot do better than conclude this article by the 

 following extract, culled from a very old book in my 

 possession : " When the bird is living and healthy, no 

 pen can describe the varied and changeful beauties 

 that develop themselves at every moment, for the 

 creature seems to comprehend within its own single form 

 the united beauties of all the other members of the 

 feathered tribe. There is delicacy of shape, grace of 



