456 



THE PAEADISE WHIDAH BIRD. 





PAUADISE WHIDAH BlRD.—t^idvaparadisea. 



The Paeadise or Beoad-shafted 

 Whidah Bied is the species that is most 

 familiar in cages and menageries, as it is 

 by no means an uncommon bird in its 

 native laud, and bears confinement better 

 than most inhabitants of a tropical land. 

 It is an inhabitant of Western Africa, 

 oeing found throughout the whole district 

 from Senegal to Angola; and as it is of 

 a light and airy disposition, it gives a 

 lively aspect to the trees among which 

 it lives. It is perpetually in motion, 

 flitting from bough to bough with graceful 

 lightness, pecking here and there after a 

 casual insect, and evidently admiring its 

 own beautiful tail with thorough appre- 

 ciation. 



The name Widow Bird is altogether 

 an erroneous title, although it is supposed 

 by many persons to have been given to 

 the bird on account of its dark colour 

 and long train, as well as in consequence 

 of its evidently disconsolate state when 

 the beautiful tail-feathers have fallen off 

 after the breeding season. Certainly a 

 caged Whidah Bird in such a condition 

 exhibits the sincerest grief for his loss, 

 and conducts himself as if labouring 

 under the most poignant sorrow. Instead 

 of boldly skipping among the highest 

 forks, and flirting his long tail for the 

 admiration of every spectator, he sits 

 humbly on the lowest perches, or even 

 on the floor of the cage, backs himself 

 into a corner, and seems thoroughly 

 ashamed of his undress. In point of 

 fact, however, the proper name is Whidah 

 Bird, a title that was originally given 

 to it by the Portuguese, because the first 

 specimens that were brought to Europe 

 came from the kingdom of Whidah on 

 the eastern coast of Africa. 



Of late years the Whidah Bird has 

 come into fashion in England as an in- 

 habitant of the aviary, and in Erance 

 has been common for a very long time. 

 Many of the French dealers have suc- 

 ceeded in breeding these birds. On 

 account of the peculiarly long tail, the 

 Whidah Bird requires a very roomy cage, 

 with perches of considerable height, and 

 BO arranged as not to interfere with the 

 movements of the bird. It is very fond 

 of bathing, and like many other tame 

 birds, bursts into a cry of gratitude when 

 supplied with fresh water. Of its habits 

 in a wild state little or nothing is known, 



