THE FEATHERS. 77 



The distance, too, at which some birds may be 

 heard is very extraordinary. The brown Crane of 

 North America, which soars to an amazing height, 

 when almost out of sight utters a note w r hich is so 

 distinctly heard, that an experienced sportsman 

 would imagine it to be close at hand. 



From the notes and voice of birds, we will next 

 proceed to their feathers and wings. A more beau- 

 tiful, light, and compact piece of machinery, or more 

 perfectly adapted for the purposes for which it is 

 intended, cannot be conceived, than a feather. For 

 beanty, look to the colours and shades presented by 

 the glossy plumage of our Peacocks and Pheasants, 

 with which everybody is familiar; but their colours, 

 beautiful and brilliant as they are, shrink into insig- 

 nificance compared with the dazzling coverings of 

 many others, found only in the hotter climates of 

 the globe. It is difficult to make a selection 

 amongst the splendid variety w r hich might be namecj; 

 but perhaps the Ptiloris Paradiscus, a bird of New 

 Guinea, little known, is one of the most beautiful. 

 It is impossible for any written description, or even 

 coloured representation, to give an accurate idea of 

 this most splendid creature. Its size is about that 

 of a small pigeon, and its general colour is a deep 

 velvet black, glossed on the upper parts with rich 

 brownish lilac, which in some lights leaves the 

 margin of each feather black, and gives them a scale- 

 like appearance. The whole part of the head is 

 covered by a crown of smaller scale-like feathers, of 

 a splendid metallic green ; each colour alternately 

 preponderating, as the direction of the light is 

 varied. The middle of the throat is occupied by a 



