268 DESERVES ITS NAME. 



owed by his plumage, the crouching body, yel- 

 low head, and emerald green throat form but 

 the foundation and setting to the golden glory 

 which waves above. Seen in this attitude the 

 Bird of Paradise really deserves its name, and 

 must be ranked as one of the most beautiful 

 and most wonderful of living things. 1 ' 



In truth, it is so transcendently beautiful that 

 hunters have been astonished into forgetfulness 

 of their guns, and no triumph was ever greater, 

 for to recognize an attractive creature and lift 

 the gun to take its life seems to be a single 

 operation of many who carry the murderous 

 weapon. 



The Twelve-wired, one of the better known 

 varieties of the Birds of Paradise, is usually fig- 

 ured, and probably always mounted, with its 

 exquisite plumes closely folded against its sides, 

 but the French naturalist and traveler Le Vail- 

 lant, in his large work published early in the 

 century, gives a representation of it under the 

 name of Le Nebuleux, with feathers expanded 

 to the uttermost, a truly magnificent display. 

 All his figures, though sometimes incorrect, 

 owing to the scanty knowledge of the time, have 

 a great deal of life. Each bird is presented 

 both in repose, with plumage all folded smooth- 

 ly back, and in excitement, with every fan and 

 ruff and erectile ornament fully spread. 



