NOTES OF THE PARADISE BIRD. 43 



SO proud is the creature of its elegant dress, that 

 it never permits a soil to remain upon it, and it 

 may frequently be seen spreading out its wings 

 and feathers, and regarding its splendid self in 

 every direction, to observe whether the whole of 

 its plumage is in an unsullied condition. It 

 does not suffer from the cold weather during the 

 winter season at Macao, though exposing the 

 elegant bird to the bleak northerly wind is 

 always very particularly avoided. Mr. Beale is 

 very desirous of procuring a living female spe- 

 cimen of this bird, to endeavour, if possible, 

 to breed them in his aviary.* 



The sounds uttered by this bird are very 

 peculiar ; that which appears to be a note of 

 congratulation resembles somewhat the cawing 

 of a raven, but changes to a varied scale 

 in musical gradations, as he, hi, ho, haw, re- 

 peated rapidly and frequently, as lively and 

 playfully he hops round and along his perch, 

 descending to the second perch to be admired, 

 and congratulate the stranger who has made 

 a visit to inspect him ; he frequently raises his 



* Pigafetta says, in his relation of Magellan's voyage 

 round the world, that in the island of Bachian, (one of the 

 Molucca islands,) a species of bird, of exquisite beauty, was 

 found, which the natives called " the bird of God," saying it 

 came from Paradise. 



