THE RED BIRD OF PARADISE. 



the Birds of Paradise, 



was thought, the forms they 



IRDS of Paradise are found 

 only in New Guinea and 

 ontheneighboringislands. 

 Thespecies presented here 

 is found only on a few islands. 



In former days very singular ideas 

 prevailed concerning these birds and 

 the most extravagant tales were told 

 of the life they led in their native 

 lands. The natives of New Guinea, in 

 preparing their skins for exportation, 

 had removed all traces of legs, so that it 

 was popularly supposed they possessed 

 none, and on account of their want of 

 feet and their great beauty, were called 



it 

 had 



borne in the Garden of Eden, living 

 upon dew or ether, through which it 

 was imagined they perpetually floated 

 by the aid of their long cloud-like 

 plumage. 



Of one in confinement Dr. Bennett 

 says: "I observed the bird, before 

 eating a grasshopper, place the in- 

 sect upon the perch, keep it firmly 

 fixed by the claws, and, divesting it of 

 the legs, wings, etc., devour it with 

 the head always fi.rst. It rarely alights 

 upon the ground, and so proud is the 

 creature of its elegant dress that it 

 never permits a soil to remain upon it, 

 frequently spreading out its wings and 

 feathers, regarding its splendid self in 

 every direction." 



The sounds uttered by this bird are 

 very peculiar, resembling somewhat 

 the cawing of the Raven, but change 

 gradually to a varied scale in musical 

 gradations, like he^ hi^ ho^ hozv ! He 

 frequently raises his voice, sending 

 forth notes of such power as to be 

 heard at a long distance. These notes 

 are zvhack^ zvJiack^ uttered in a barking 

 tone, the last being a low note in 

 conclusion. 



While creeping amongstthe branches 

 in search of insects, he utters a soft 



clucking note. During the entire day 

 he flies incessantly from one tree to 

 another, perching but a few moments, 

 and concealing himself among the 

 foliage at the least suspicion of danger. 



In Bennett's "Wanderings" is an 

 entertaining description of Mr. Beale's 

 bird at Maceo. "This elegant bird," 

 he says, "has a light, playful, and 

 graceful manner, with an arch and 

 impudent look, dances about when a 

 visitor approaches the cage, and seems 

 delighted at being made an object of 

 admiration. It bathes twice daily, 

 and after performing its ablutions 

 throws its delicate feathers up nearly 

 over its head, the quills of which 

 have a peculiar structure, enabling 

 the bird to effect this object. 

 To watch thib bird make its 

 toilet is one of the most interesting 

 sights of nature ; the vanity which 

 inspires its every movement, the 

 rapturous delight with which it views 

 its enchanting self, its arch look when 

 demanding the spectator's admiration, 

 are all pardonable in a delicate 

 creature so richly embellished, so neat 

 and cleanly, so fastidious in its tastes, 

 so scrupulously exact in its observ- 

 ances, and so winning in all its ways." 



Says a traveler in New Guinea: 

 " As we were drawing near a small 

 grove of teak-trees, our eyes were 

 dazzled with a sight more beautiful 

 than any I had yet beheld. It was 

 that of a Bird of Paradise moving 

 through the bright light of the morn- 

 ing sun. I now saw that the birds 

 must be seen alive in their native 

 forests, in order to fully comprehend 

 the poetic beauty of the words Birds 

 of Paradise. They seem the inhabi- 

 tants of a fairer world than ours, 

 things that have wandered in some 

 way from their home, and found the 

 earth to show us something of the 

 beautv of worlds bevond." 



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