THE RED BIRD OF PARADISE. 31 



quills and wonderful plumes made their appear- 

 ance. 



The Red Birds of Paradise are only found in 

 one spot. They live in a small island close by 

 New Guinea. This is one of the islands where 

 the traveller finds little comfort and scarcely any- 

 thing to eat. 



The natives pay every year a tribute of Birds of 

 Paradise to a neighbouring chief. But they will 

 not take any further trouble. They neither plant 

 nor sow. Each native has, if he can, a frizzly- 

 headed Papuan for a slave, and lives himself in 

 perfect idleness. 



Even though the cocoa-nut palm grows in the 

 island, it does not enrich the people. They do 

 not cultivate any vegetables, but they cut down 

 the green cocoa-nuts, and eat them instead. 



In the forests of this island the Eed Birds of 

 Paradise have their home. They are not shot 

 with a blunt arrow, but another mode of catching 

 them is employed. 



There is a great climbing-plant that grows in 

 the forest and bears a red seed. The bird is very 



