55 



BIRDS OF PARADISE. 



This Case contains, it is presumed, the finest col- 

 lection of the birds of this kind in Europe, either in 

 respect of number, variety, or preservation. 



Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisea Apoda). 



No birds have perhaps more puzzled the naturalist 

 than those which are termed Birds of Paradise. They 

 have been described as the inhabitants of the air, 

 never resting on the earth, and living on the dews of 

 heaven. Others have asserted, ilmi ihey live on in- 

 sects ; while some have insisted, that they have no 

 legs ; others again contend, that they have not only 

 strong and large legs, but that they are birds of prey. 

 But the fact is, that the inhabitants of the Molucca 

 Islands, perceivingthe inclinations theEuropeans have 

 to obtain these birds, and at the same time taking ad- 

 vantage of their creduhty, originally practised many 

 deceits in order to enhance their value. Error how- 

 ever is not of very long duration ; and, in the present 

 instance, it was at length discovered that these birds 

 had not only legs, but that they were so dispropor- 

 tionably large, that they took away a considerable 

 share of the elegance of the birds ; on this account it 

 is not improbable they were deprived of them by the 

 islanders. Bufion, in his history of birds says, this 

 beautiful bird is not much diffused, it is in general 

 confined to that part of Asia which produces the 

 spiceries, and especially the islands of Aroii. It is 

 known also in the part of New Guinea opposite to 

 those islands ; but the name which it there receives, 

 Burungxirou, seems to indicate its natal soil. The 



