AVES. 32'; 



of splendid metallic green. Amongst traders these are usually confounded 

 with the Paradise birds. Epimachus magnifcus and resplendens are other 

 very beautiful species. 



Suh-fcan. 3. Paradiseince, or Paradise Birds. Bill strong, slightly curved 

 only, compressed, tip notched ; wings moderate, rounded ; tail various ; 

 tarsi and feet strong, sometimes short ; toes long ; strong claws, curved and 

 acute. Sides of the body, breast, tail, and sometimes the head, generally 

 with long and very ornamental plumes. Size rather large. 



The Paradise birds are, perhaps, the most beautiful of birds. They are 

 peculiar to the large island of New Guinea, in the forests of which they 

 live on the tops of the highest trees, and subsist upon fruits and insects. It 

 is said that they have loud and unpleasant notes, somewhat like those of 

 the crow family ; but little is known, however, of their history. 



The greater and lesser Birds of Paradise, Paradisea major and minor 

 {pi. 99, fg. 4), are the species most common in collections, though the king 

 paradise bird, P. regia {pi. 99, fig. 5), is frequent. The other known species 

 are, the red-plumed {P. rubra), the magnificent (P. magnifica), the superb, 

 P. superha [pi. 99, fig. 6), the six-shafted, P. sexsetacea {pi. 99, fig. 7), so 

 called from the curious appendages of that number growing from the sides 

 of its head, the republican {P. respuhlica), and Wilson's paradise bird 

 (P. icilsonii). From the two first species (the greater and lesser paradise 

 birds) the plumes worn in ladies' head-dresses are obtained, and their skins 

 have been articles of merchandise for centuries. 



Fam. 2. Nectarinead^, or Sun Birds. Bill more or less lengthened, 

 slender, and curved ; wings generally short and incapable of long-continued 

 flight ; tail usually moderate, generally short and truncate, sometimes long 

 and graduated. Tarsi and feet moderate, generally rather weak. 



A very numerous family of birds, nearly all of which are of very small 

 size and distinguished for brilliancy of plumage, in which they are only 

 excelled by their immediate relatives, the humming birds. The species are 

 most abundant in Asia and Africa. 



Sub-fam. 1. Nectarininoi, or Sun Birds. Bill slender, curved, compressed, 

 and with the tip entire, acute ; nostrils basal, with the opening closed hy a 

 membrane. Wings moderate, rounded ; tail generally lengthened, but 

 frequently truncate. Tarsi usually moderate or weak. Size small ; colors 

 of plumage usually metallic and very showy. 



This sub-family consists of about one hundred and fifty species of beau- 

 tiful little birds, which are restricted to the tropical countries of Asia and 

 Africa, and are known by the universal name of sun birds, though the 

 American colonists of Western Africa call them humming birds. They 

 are usually seen in pairs or in small flocks, and fly with a tremulous or 

 humming noise like the humming birds, which in most respects they appear 

 to resemble. They feed principally upon minute insects, and are said to be 

 fond of spiders, for which they search in the crevices of the bark of trees. 

 Many species are found in Liberia, some of which are exceedingly beautiful, 

 such as the Senegal sun bird {Nectai'inia senegalensis), the red-backed sun 

 bird {N. cuprea), and many others. 



531 



