NATURAL HISTOltY. 



insect food, for in Peninsu- 

 lar and Oriental steamers 

 cockroaches were scarce, 

 and it was only by setting 

 traps in the store-rooms, and 

 by hunting an hour every 

 night in the forecastle, that 

 I could secure a few dozens 

 of these creatures, scarcely 

 enough for a single meal. 

 At Malta, where I stayed a 

 fortnight, I got plenty of 

 cockroaches from a bake- 

 house, and when I left took 

 with me several biscuit-tins 

 full as provision for the 

 voyage home. We came 

 through the Mediterranean 

 in March, with a very cold 

 wind ; and the only place 



on board the mail-steamer where their large cage 

 coxild be accommodated was exposed to a strong 

 current of air down a hatchway, which stood open 

 day and night : yet the birds never seemed to feel 

 the cold. During the night journey from Marseilles 

 to Paris it was a sharp frost ; yet they arrived in 

 London in perfect health, and lived in the Zoological 

 Gardens for one and tAvo years, often displaying 

 their beautiful plumes to the admiration of the 

 spectators. It is evident, therefore, that the 

 Paradise Birds are very hardy, and require air and 

 exercise rather than heat ; and I feel sure that if a 

 good-sized conservatory could be devoted to them, or 

 if they could be turned loose in the Tropical Depart- 

 ment of the Crystal Palace or the Great Palm House 

 at Kew, they would live in this country for many 

 years." 



After Mr. Wallace's return to Europe, the 

 Dutch Government, stimulated by the successful 

 result of his travels made in their East Indian pos- 

 sessions, despatched thither several excellent collec- 

 tors, whose names are now household words to the 

 ornithologist : such as Bernstein, Von Rosenberg, 

 and Van Muschenbroek ; whilst within the last few 

 years the expeditions of Dr. A. B. Meyer, and of the 

 Italian travellers D'Albertis and Beccari, have suc- 

 ceeded in making us acquainted with many species 

 which Mr. Wallace was unable to procure, as well 

 as in obtaining some new species of these wonderful 

 birds. Dr. Beccari spent some time on the Arfak 

 Mountains in North-western New Guinea, and he 

 has written a long account of the ornithology of that 

 wonderful region. From this essay a few sentence:-. 



GORGETED BIRD OF PARADISE. 



