378 TROPICAL BIRD LIFE IN BOTH HEMISPHERES 



of the East and the ladies of England. The chocolate- coloured 

 tail is short, but two very long shafts of the same hue con- 

 siderably exceed in length even the 

 long, loose plumes of the sides. 



Unable to fly with the wind, which 

 would destroy their loose plumage, the 

 birds of Paradise take their flight con- 

 stantly against it, being careful not to 

 venture out in hard blowing weather. 

 The Papuas climb, during the night, 

 upon the high forest trees, where they 

 have observed the birds to roost, and 

 patiently await the dawn to catch them 



Bird of Paradise. . i. i, i. xu •j.'u 



m nooses, or to shoot them with 

 blunted arrows. The Portuguese first found these birds on 

 the island of Grilolo, and as the Papuas tear off their legs before 

 bringing them to market, it was for a long time supposed that 

 they were destitute of these organs. The most absurd fables 

 were founded on this imaginary deficiency : it was said that 

 they passed their whole life sailing in the air, dew being 

 their only food ; that they never took rest except by suspending 

 themselves from the branches of trees by the shafts of their two 

 elongated tail feathers ; that they never touched the earth till 

 the moment of their death ; and the Malays still believe that 

 they retire for breeding to the groves of Paradise. It is almost 

 superfluous to add that the researches of modern travellers have 

 fully proved the utter fallacy of these ridiculous tales. 



There are no less than six different genera of Paradise birds, 

 each comprehending several species, and were it possible to 

 penetrate into the forests of New Gruinea, no doubt many mort 

 would be found. 



The ornithological wonders of Australia are inferior to those 

 of no other part of the world. Can anything, for instance, be 

 more extraordinary than the constructions of the Bower-birds, 

 which are built not for the useful purpose of containing the young, 

 but purely as a playing place or an assembly room ? " The 

 structures of the spotted bower-bird," says Mr. Gould, " are in 

 many instances three feet in length. They are outwardly bidlt of 



