on how Birds of Paradise are caught. 277


would call them all, and the village would be alive with them because

his brother was very angry that they had taken his presents and not

caught him any Blue Birds ! He evidently succeeded beyond expec¬

tations, for a day or two after the first pair of Blue Birds arrived,

being followed within a few days by another eleven ! Unfortunately,

the natives are very cruel in carrying the birds they bring in, tying

them tightly by the thick part of the leg to poles with head down¬

ward ; when resting they are just pitched anywhere, so that a

number are half or quite dead on arrival. Mr. Ward considers that

the Blue Birds are not at all rare, but being a kind of sacred bird it

is hard to induce the natives to catch them. Other birds, especially

those of bright plumage, the feathers of which they use themselves

in their dancing costumes, they will readily bring in in any number.

In this altitude Mr. Ward also obtained his “Superbs ” and “ Long-

tails ” without trouble. As far as he could observe, the King Bird is

the only one which does not dance or perform in some way. Parrots

and Pigeons are very plentiful, and form the main item on the menu.

The natives catch them with snares and bring as many as required

for small remuneration.


One of the most interesting birds is the Golden-crested Bower

Bird, which is taken in the net. The bower of this bird by description

must be most remarkable. A straight little sapling perhaps 2 ft.

high is selected, and in some way the bird kills it and strips it of

its leaves. Then he will plant in a circle around this little flagpole,

in the shape of a little mound, moss, which in this ever moist and

steamy atmosphere grows very quickly. He will then place a dead

stick from the outer rim of the mound against the upright, and build

a network of little sticks up the upright and the lean-to stick,

leaving an opening on the mossy mound through which he plays.


One of the most common birds of New Guinea is a gorgeously

plumed, long-tailed Kingfisher. Little hoys catch them any time

they want to, taking the half-curled bark of a banana tree, and

fastening a grasshopper into the centre. Two or three inches

each side of it they fix a snare with the noose upright inside the

bark. Having located the bird, they put their trap on the ground

close by, and clapping their hands so as to attract the attention of

the bird, they walk backward away. The bird invariably swoops



