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An Old Australian Bird-Lover,



species of beetles. I noticed that whereas other birds will kill these

insects first, especially such as have nippers or pincers like the grubs,

the Birds of Paradise just grab them with their powerful claws, and

—they are remarkably sharp !—holding them down with one foot, will

eat them right away. It is remarkable how systematically they

proceed to dismember the locusts, or cicadas rather, always the same

way, commencing with the pulling off of the wings ; then come the

legs in rotation, and then the head last. It is strange that even

whilst being pulled to pieces these locusts will sing. To have small

birds in the same aviary is certain to court murder, for the Birds of

Paradise are great cannibals : even the little King, the gem of all I

know, is not above stealing eggs and young out of the nests of

smaller birds. This King Bird of Paradise is a great mimic. He

often delights to give the note of the Butcher Birds, followed by a

warning call which sends all the birds inside and those near, outside

the aviaries, under shelter. He has quite a repertoire of calls, some

not unpleasant, and his voice, like that of the Bed Bird, is heard

often and far off. He is certainly my favourite, and the most

interesting and liveliest of those Birds of Paradise I know. When

the moult commenced during September-October I noticed my

Birds of Paradise becoming very tame—a young Magnificent

especially so—as Soft-Bills have a habit of doing before or when

they get “ light.” I caught it out, and placing it in a large cage by

itself I set all the dainties I thought it would delight in before it.

Alas, a few days later the bird died—I admit through my ignorance

—-but I had learnt my lesson, and when the others behaved in a like

manner I realised that they asked for more live food, which I now

supplied in additional mealworms. Some would eat forty to sixty

and more per day. They soon improved, and as their moult pro¬

gressed so of themselves left off eating mealworms. Just now in

full colour, they hardly touch them. I might mention that young

cock Birds of Paradise have the plumage of the adult hens and

are hard to distinguish from the hens, hut once in plume they

always retain the characteristics of the male, dropping their “ show ”

plumes only. I understand from Mr. Ward that it takes three

years before the Red Bird gets the two streamers, and only in the

fourth shows the red plumes, which then, year by year, improve. I



