BIRDS PERCHING BIRDS DIAGRAM 4. 



73 



Bird of Paradise. 



in this country, and are only found in the hot countries of 

 America. The smallest species lay eggs scarcely larger than a 

 pea. The humming-birds are constantly on the wing ; they are 

 courageous animals, and are not afraid to defend themselves 

 against much stronger, but less agile enemies. 



The Birds of Paradise are also very 

 beautiful birds, which are found in New 

 Guinea, and the neighbouring islands. 

 They are nearly as large as magpies. 

 They are hunted for their feathers, which 

 are made into ornaments for the toilet. 

 The savages who sell birds of paradise to 

 the merchants, were formerly accustomed 

 to remove their legs, to make believe that 

 they never rested on the ground or in 

 trees. But the birds of paradise have legs 

 like all other birds, which are, in fact, 

 rather ugly. 



Crows. The family of Crows includes several kinds of birds 

 which are found in England ; the large-hooded crow, black 

 with the back and belly grey ; the rook, black with blue reflec- 

 tions, and the base of the bill bare of feathers ; the jackdaw, 

 smaller than the others, with the upper part of the head ashy 

 grey; and lastly, the jays and the magpies. All these birds 

 have a strong beak with a cutting edge, and they are nearly all 

 of dull colours, like birds in mourning. It is probably for this 

 reason only that they have also been looked upon as birds of 

 ill omen, but this belief is as absurd as all others of the same 

 class. These birds are generally intelligent ; they are easily 

 reared ; they like the house, and learn also to repeat some 

 words. 



The Raven is a large bird, wholly black, somewhat rare, and 

 only found in thinly peopled districts. They live in pairs, and 

 nest on trees, or in the holes of rocks. The outside of the nest 

 is made of the roots and branches of trees, and it is lined inside 



