STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 101 



bearded only at the beginning and tlie end ; tbe 

 wbole shaft, for above two feet nine inches, 

 being of a deep black, while the. feathered 

 extremity is of a beautiful changeable color. 



The female of the bird of Paradise is by no 

 means as beautiful as the male. Here is a 

 picture of the female. In the delightful and 

 spicy woods of the Molucca Islands, these beau- 

 tiful creatures fly in large flocks, so that the 

 groves which produce the richest spices pro- 

 duce the finest birds, also. The inhabitants 

 themselves are perfectly aware of the great 

 beauty of these birds, and give them the name 

 of God^s hirds^ as being superior to all others 

 in existence. They live in large flocks, and 

 at night generally perch upon the same tree. 

 They fly very rapidly, and are almost continu- 

 ally on the wing, in pursuit of insects, which 

 form their usual prey. 



Some years ago the ladies in this country 

 used to ornament their bonnets with the plu- 

 mage of this beautiful bird. 

 9* 



