BIRDS OF PARADISE 



erected the beautiful plumes, spreading them in the 

 lightest and most graceful form, causing every feather 

 to vibrate, like a flame of fire, that almost dazzled the 

 sight. While this excitement lasted the bird would 

 sometimes turn almost under the branch, or perch, by 

 bending the head or neck very low and downwards. At 

 this period the two birds would not agree ; they attacked 

 each other, and eventually the aviary had to be divided 

 into two compartments. 



The birds hop about on the ground like jays or jack- 

 daws ; they do not run like starlings or magpies, which run 

 on the ground, but when on the ground the long plumes 

 are carried high above the back to prevent the points 

 of the feathers from touching the ground. They soon 

 became very tame, and would take food from the hand ; 

 the sight of a mealworm would bring them down from 

 the perch immediately. 



The moulting was extremely rapid, the fine plumes 

 were thrown off in a few days, and the new ones appeared 

 to grow all at the same time in a bunch ; it is therefore 

 certain that these birds after they attain the adult male 

 plumage lose it only during the annual moults, like the 

 peacock and many other of these richly-ornamented birds. 



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