206 HISTORY OF 



they considered themselves entitled to rise in their 

 demands when they offered it for sale. One 

 deceit led on to another ; the buyer, finding the 

 bird without legs, naturally inquired after them, 

 and the seller as naturally began to assert that it 

 had none. Thus far the European was imposed 

 upon by others ; in all the rest he imposed upon 

 himself. Seeing so beautiful a bird without legs, 

 he concluded that it could live only in air, where 

 legs were unnecessary. The extraordinary splen- 

 dour of its plumage assisted this deception ; and 

 as it had heavenly beauty, so it was asserted to 

 have a heavenly residence. From thence its name, 

 and all the false reports that have been propagat- 

 ed concerning it. 



Error, however, is short-lived; and time has 

 discovered that this bird not only has legs, but 

 very large strong ones for its size. Credulity, 

 when undeceived, runs into the opposite extreme ; 

 and, soon after, this harmless bird was branded 

 with the character of being rapacious, of destroy- 

 ing all those of smaller size, and, from the amaz- 

 ing 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 vivacity of their tints, 

 but by the feathers of the tail, there being two 



