A492 AVES—BIRD OF PARADISE. 
As the country where they are bred has its tempestuous season, whez 
rains and thunders continually disturb the atmosphere, these birds are then 
but seldom seen. The natives, who make a trade of killing and selling 
these birds to the Europeans, generally conceal themselves in the trees where 
they resort, and having covered themselves up from sight in a bower made 
of the branches, they shoot at the birds with reedy arrows; and, as they 
assert, if they happen to kill the king, they then have a good chance for 
killing the greatest part of the flock. The chief mark by which they know 
the king is by the ends of the feathers in his tail, which have eyes like those 
of a peacock. When they have taken a number of these birds, their usual 
method is to gut them, and cut of their legs. This has given rise to the 
fable above quoted; and the reason of this operation is, that the birds are 
used in that country as aigrettes, and for other ornaments of dress ; and that 
being the case, it is usual to cut off the useless and less brilliant parts. They 
then run a hot iron into the body, which dries up the internal moisture ; and 
filling the cavity with salts and spices, they sell them to the Europeans for a 
perfect trifle. 
THE: KING? BLED OF PARADISE? 
Is about the size of a lark. The upper parts of the plumage are of a 
bright red, and the breast is a blood red color, with a broad green bar. The 
wing feathers are a little mottled with white and green, and the whole plu- 
mage has a fine gloss like satin. The tail is remarkably short, and from it 
spring two naked feathers, like those in the former species, except that 
they coil ina spiral manner at the end. It is supposed to breed in New 
Guinea, where there is also a species, the predominant color of which is 
black. 
THE MAGNIFICENT BIRD OF PARADISE? 
Is superior to all the preceding in the beauty of its plumage. It is the 
size of a blackbird. The crown of the head is a deep chesnut. At the 
back part of the neck a tuft of yellowish feathers arises, each of which is 
marked near the tip with a black spot; beneath these, springs another tuft 

1 Paradisea regia, Lin. 2 Paradisea magnifica, SHAW 
