418 DIVISION I. VERTEBIJAL ANIMALS. — CLASS II. AVES. 



its delicate fcalliei-s up nearly over the licad, the quills of which feathers have 

 a peculiar structure, so as to enable the bird to effect this olyect. Its food 

 dining continenicnt is boiled rice, mixed up with soft egg, together with 

 2)lantains, and living insects of the grasshopper tribe ; these insects, when 

 thrown to him, the bird contrives to catch in his beak with great celerity : 

 it will eat insects in a living state, but will not touch them when dead. 



" One of the best opportunities of seeing this splendid bird in all its beauty 

 of action, as well as display of plumage, is early in the morning, when he 

 makes liis toilet ; the beautiful subulur plumage is then thrown out, and 

 cleaned from any spot that may sully its purity by being passed gently 

 throuirh the bill ; the short chocolate-colored winfrs are extended to the ut- 

 most, and as he kee[)s them in a steady, ilapping motion, as if in imitation 

 of their use in flight, at the same time raising up the delicate, long feathers 

 over the back, which are spread in a chaste and elegant manner, floating like 

 films in the ambient air. 



"I never yet beheld a soil on its feathers. After expanding the wings, it 

 would bring them together so as to conceal the head ; then bending it grace- 

 fully, it would inspect the state of its phunage underneath. This action it 

 repeats* in quick succession, uttering at the time its croaking notes : it then 

 pecks and cleans its plumage in every part within reach, and throwing out 

 the elegant and delicate tufts of feathers underneath the wings, seemingly 

 with much care, and with not a little pride, they are cleaned in succession 

 if rerpured, by throwing them abroad, elevating them, and passing them in 

 succession through the bill." 



"A drawing of the bird, of the natural size, was made by a Chinese 

 artist. The bird advanced steadily towards the picture, uttering at the same 

 time its cawing congratulatory notes ; it did not appear excited by rage, but 

 pecked gently at the representation, jumping al)out the perch, knocking its 

 mandibles together with a clattering noise, and cleaning them against the 

 perch, as if welcoming the arrival of a com[ianii)n. After the trial of the 

 ])icturc, a looking-glass was brought to see what effect it would produce upon 

 the bird, and tlie result was nearly the same. lie regarded the reflection of 

 himself most steadfastly in the mirror, never quitting it during the time it 

 remained before him. When the glass was removed to the lower from the 

 ui)per perch, he instantly followed, but would not descend upon the floor of 

 the cage when it was placed so low. 



" The bird is not at all ravenous in his habits of feeding, but he eats rice 

 leisurely, almost grain by grain. Should any of the insects thrown into his 

 cage fall upon the floor, he will not descend to them, appearing to be fearful 

 that in so doing he should soil his delicate plumage. lie therefore seldom 

 or never descends, except to perform his ablutions in the pan uf water placed 

 at the bottom of the cage expressly for his use.'' 



