COURTSHIP AMONG BIRDS 105 



and when he is in the pendulous position his body sways 

 gently as if it were influenced by a fitful breeze. The whole 

 of this performance takes but a very few seconds." 



Naturally one needs to witness such a display to appre- 

 ciate its beauty and its weirdness; but the wonderful 

 sketches which my friend, Mr. G. E. Lodge, made during 

 one of these performances, should go far towards helping 

 the reader to visualize what really takes place. 



While it would be untrue to say that the Birds of Para- 

 dise are of a more amorous, or more excitable disposition 

 than other less resplendent birds, one cannot but be 

 impressed with the fact that they exhibit a range of 

 variation in the matter of feather-ornament probably 

 unequalled, and certainly unsurpassed, by any other 

 group of birds. From what has been observed of the 

 few species which have been kept in confinement, they 

 seem to enjoy no less distinction in matters of display. 

 On this latter subject no more of importance can be said, 

 and exigencies of space forbid any attempt to describe the 

 exquisite beauty of coloration which a survey of all the 

 known species reveals. It would be hardly more profit- 

 able to attempt to describe the varied character of the 

 shields, crests, frills, streamers, which are to be met with 

 in different species : but a glance at the accompanying 

 illustrations will show that it would be hard, indeed, to 

 exaggerate the splendour of the ornamentation which 

 these birds have developed. Even here, where no indica- 

 tion can be given of the glowing, vivid colours, often 

 indescribably beautiful, it is obvious that these birds well 

 deserve their name. St. John's imaginary Paradise would 

 probably have been described in far more enticing language 

 had he known of the existence of these wonderful birds. 

 Among all the known species the dullest is Wallace's 



