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Bird of Paradise is supposed to subsist on the aroma- 

 tic productions of these islands ; at least, it does not 

 live solely on dew. Linnaeus says, it feeds on large 

 butterflies; and Bontius, that it sometimes preys 

 upon birds. Its ordinary haunt is in the woods, where 

 perching in the trees, the Indians watch it in slender 

 huts, which they attach to the branches, and shoot it 

 with their arrows of reeds. The ancients seem to 

 have been totally unacquainted with the Bird of Pa- 

 radise. Beloii pretends that it was the Phoenix of 

 antiquity ; but his opinion is founded on the fabulous 

 qualities of both. The Phoenix, too, appeared in 

 Arabia and Egypt, while the Bird of Paradise has 

 remained always attached to the oriental parts of Asia, 

 which were very little known to the antients. — The 

 extreme elegance of the tail-feathers of this bird 

 have made them expensive articles of female deco- 

 ration. 



Lesser Bird of Paradise. 



This differs from the last, in being considerably 

 less, and in having a long flowing feather at the sides, 

 of a much finer texture and colour. 



The Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Paradisea 

 Magnifica). 



The Gorget Bird of Paradise (Paradisea Nigra). 

 This is a most splendid and beautiful bird, and 

 likewise extremely rare. Presented by Lady Banks. 

 Gold-hreasted Paradise Bird (P. Aurea). 

 A remarkably fine specimen. 



King Bird of Paradise (Paradisea Regia). 



This superb bird is usually called the King of the 

 Birds of Paradise ; but this appellation is drawn from 

 fabulous accounts. Clusius was informed by the ma- 

 riners, from a tradition which prevailed in the East, 

 that each of the species of the Birds of Paradise had 



