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generally of a ycllowifli colour, but in fome fpeclmens, (as in the prefent) of 

 the richeft and moft beautiful yellow. Thefe feathers are of a ftrufture fo 

 peculiarly delicate, an appearance fo uncommonly elegant, and of fuch an 

 aiiy lightnefs, as to furpafs all defcription. This part is commonly, but er- 

 roneoufly, termed the tail : the real tail is rather ftiort, and is in great meafure 

 hid by the flowing plumes juft mentioned. 



In calm weather great numbers of thefe beautiful birds are feen flying in 

 companies, as well as fingly floating about, and purfuing the larger butterflies 

 and other infefts ; but when the wind rifes and becomes ftrong, or fuddenly 

 changes, they are embarraflfed by their exuberant plumage, and are faid not 

 unfrequentiy to fall to the ground, and are thus eafily taken. 



It has been fometimes imagined that this bird, from its extraordinary beauty, 

 o-ave rife to the celebrated fiftion of the Phoenix, of which the belief is per- 

 haps even yet not entirely extinft. What could have given rife to fo ex- 

 traordinary an idea is not eafy to imagine : no fable however feems to have 

 liad a wider dominion, or to have been more frequently quoted by poets 

 and moralifts. 



Another popular error relative to the Paradife-bird is its fuppofed want of 

 leo-s ; for as the fpecimens which were form.erly imported into Europe were 

 firft deprived of their legs, it became a general idea that this fpecies really 

 had none : that it was almoft perpetually on the wing ; and that when it 

 refted, it was by fufpending itfelf from the branches of trees by the two 

 long naked fliafts which proceed from the lower part of the back; and even 

 the learned Gefner, forgetting that this would imply a mufcular ftrufture in a 

 feather, relates the fame circumftance. Thefe birds are natives of the Eafl: 

 Indies, and are principally found about the Molucca Iflands. 



PS I T- 



