CURIOUS CREATURES. 191 



naeus called the emerald birds of Paradise apoda or 

 legless ; whilst Tavernier says that these birds getting 

 drunk on nutmegs, fall helpless to the ground, and then 

 the ants eat off their legs. 



" But note we now, towards the rich Moluques, 

 Those passing strange and wondrous (birds) Manueques. 

 (Wond'rous indeed, if Sea, or Earth, or Sky, 

 Saw ever wonder swim, or goe, or fly) 

 None knowes their Nest, none knowes the dam that breeds 



them; 



Foodless they live ; for th' Aire alonely feeds them : 

 Wingless they fly ; and yet their flight extends, 

 Till with their flight, their unknown live's-date ends." 



SNOW BIRDS. 



But we must leave warm climes, and birds of Paradise, 

 and speak of " Birds shut up under the Snow." 



" There are in the Northern Countries Wood-Cocks, 





like to pheasant for bigness, but their Tails are much 

 shorter, and they are cole black all over their bodies, 

 with some white feathers at the end of their Tails and 



