BIRD OF PARADISE. 163 



THE BIRD OF PARADISE. 



This is by far the most beautiful genus in all the order 

 of picas, and indeed some species are unrivalled among 

 the feathered tribes ; but being confined to the remotest 

 regions of the East, they were little known by our best 

 naturalists till Sonnerat, in his voyage to New Guinea, 

 threw much new light on the subject, a.nd described several 

 species which had hitherto eluded the notice of every 

 other writer or observer. 



Whatever is rare and beautiful is sure to give rise to 

 fiction. Some have described the bird of Paradise as an 

 inhabitant of the air only, living on the dew of heaven, 

 and never resting on the earth ; and, to complete the ab- 

 surdity, have denied it legs, which the romantic habits 

 thus ascribed to it had indeed rendered unnecessary. 



The Europeans were, for a long time, the dupes of 

 f their own credulity. The natives of the Moluccas, where 

 this bird is common, perceiving the inclination of travel- 

 lers to purchase it on account of the extraordinary beauty 

 of its plumage, and being aware that its feet by no means 

 corresponded with the general elegance of its appearance, 

 cut off those parts, and thus, in some degree, confirmed 

 the idea which ignorance had first adopted. As this bird 

 possessed a sort of supernatural beauty, it was honoured 

 with an imaginary heavenly residence, from which circum- 

 stance it received, and still preserves, its name ; though it 

 is certain that it is in fact a bird of prey, and that its qua- 

 lities entitle it to neither admiration nor respect. 



There are two kinds ; one about the size of a pigeon, 

 and the other not larger than a lark. Both varieties are 

 sufficiently distinguished from all other birds, not only by 

 the superior lustre of their tints, but by the feathers of 

 the tail; there being two long slender filaments, bearded 

 only at the end, which proceed from the upper part of 

 the rump, and extend far beyond the tail. This appendage, 

 however, is not common to the whole genus; but every 

 species has some peculiarity in the construction of the 

 plumage to be found in no other of the feathered tribes. 



