BIRD OF PARADISE. 



177 



no legs, for they were never seen alive, excepting when fly- 

 ing across from one island to another, the natives always 

 "bringing dead specimens for sale, without the legs, possibly 

 "because they thought they looked "better without them, in many 

 species the leg being coarse, and unbecoming a bird in every 

 other respect so exquisitely beautiful. It is quite impossible 

 to describe their beauty, or give even a faint idea of it with- 

 out coloured representations ; and few of the most favoured 

 of the feathered race can rival them in the gorgeous variety 

 and singularity of their splendid dress. Some are orna- 

 mented with light projecting tufts, of a fine downy substance, 

 while others have plumes and tendrils flying out in every 

 direction, like pennants and streamers, while their bodies 

 glisten with the most dazzling and resplendent hues, chang- 

 ing from crimson and gold to the most delicate green or 

 purple, according as the sun's rays fall upon the feathers. 

 It is said that they frequent the most retired spots of the 

 thick woods of their native country. If so, it is diffi- 

 cult to conceive 

 how they can 

 move amongst 

 close and en- 

 tangled boughs, 

 without injuring 

 their loose and 

 delicate robe of 

 plumage; or, for 

 what purpose Pro- 

 vidence has so 

 fancifully and pro- 

 fusely decorated 

 them with orna- 

 ments apparently 

 so inconvenient. 



None have ever reached this country in a living state, and 



but one species, that we are aware of, has ever been kept in 



confinement. This was the great Paradise-bird, the flowing 



yellow plumage of whose tail is so much prized as an orna- 



U 



Great Bird of Paradise. 



