122 A HISTORY OF 



Etroi, however, is short-lived, and time has discovered that this 

 bird not only has legs, but very large strong ones for its size. Ciedu- 

 lity, when undeceived, runs i/ito the opposite extieine, and soon after 

 this harmless bird was branded with the charactei of being rapacious, 

 of destroying all those of smaller size, and from ihe amazing rapidity 

 of its flight, as qualified peculiarly for extensive rapine. The real 

 history of this pretty animal is at present tolerably well known, and 

 it is found to be as harmless as it is beautiful. 



There are two kinds of the bird of Paradise ; one about the size 

 of a pigeon, which is more common ; the other not much larger than 

 a lark, which has been described more imperfectly. They, are both 

 sufficiently distinguished from all others, not only by the superior vi- 

 vacity of their tints, but by the feathers of the tail, there being two 

 long slender filaments growing from the upper part of the rump, these 

 are longer than the bird's body, and beaided only at the end. By 

 this mark the bird of Paradise may be easily known, but still more 

 easily by its gaudy livery, which being &o very brilliant, demands to 

 be minutely described. 



This bird appears to the eye as large as a pigeon, though in reality 

 the body is not much greater than that or a thrush. The tail, which 

 is about six inches, is as long as the body ; the wings are large, com- 

 pared with the bird's other dimensions. The head, the throat, and 

 the neck are of a pale gold colour. Tne base of the bill is surround- 

 ed by black feathers, as also the side of the head and throat, as soft 

 as velvet, and changeable like those on the neck of a mallard. The 

 hinder part of the head is of a shining green, mixed with gold. The 

 body and wings are chiefly covered with beautiful brown, purple, and 

 gold feathers. The uppermost part of the tail feathers are of a pale 

 yellow, and those under them white and longer than the former, for 

 "which reason the hinder part of the tail appears to be all white. But 

 what chiefly excites curiosity are the two long naked feathers above- 

 mentioned, which spring from the upper part of the rump above the 

 tail, and which are usually about three feet long. These are bearded 

 only at the beginning and the end ; the whole shaft, for above two 

 feet nine inches, being of a deep black, while the feathered extremity 

 is of a changeable colour, like the mallard's neck. 



This bird, which for beauty exceeds all others of the pie kind, is a 

 native of the Molucca Islands, but found in greatest numbers in that 

 of Aro. There, in the delightful and spicy woods of the country, do 

 these beautiful creatures fly in large flocks, so that the groves which 

 produce the richest spices produce the finest birds also. The inhabit- 

 ants themselves are not insensible of the pleasure these afford, and 

 give them the name of God's birds, as being superior to all others that 

 he has made. They live in large flocks, and at night generally perch 

 upon the same tree. They are called by some, the swallows of Tcr- 

 natc, from their rapid flight, and from their being continually on the 

 wing in pursuit of insects, their usual prey. 



As the country where they are bred has its tempestuous season, 

 ehen rains and thunders continually disturb the atmosphere, these 

 biids are then but seldom seen. It is thought that they then fly to 

 other countries where their food appears in greater abundance ; for, 

 like swallows, they have their stated times of return. In the begin- 



