26 PREPARING THE BIRDS FOR SALE. 



have been describing, used to be brought to 

 Europe. No one had the least idea what birds 

 they were, or from what country they came. 

 They were supposed to have no legs, and all kinds 

 of foolish tales were told about them. They were 

 said never to touch the ground, but to live on 

 dew. Indeed, the name of " Bird of Paradise " 

 was given them on this account ; a name they 

 have retained ever since. 



By degrees the truth came to light. It was 

 found out that the Bird of Paradise was possessed 

 of legs, and could settle on the ground, and feed 

 like other birds. In fact, there was nothing 

 supernatural about it. 



The chiefs of New Guinea, and of the other 

 islands, trade in the Birds of Paradise, and take 

 care to keep the trade in their own hands. They 

 do npt like a stranger to interfere with it ; indeed, 

 both they and their subjects dislike the coming of 

 the white man, and throw many obstacles in his 

 way ; added to which, in some of the islands there 

 is scarcely any food. The natives are too lazy to 

 work, and would almost rather starve. Yet the 



