STRANGE BIRDS AND THEIR WAYS. 251 



up with soft eggs, together with plantains, and living in- 

 sects of the grasshopper tribe ; these insects, when thrown 

 to him, the .bird contrives to catch in his beak with great 

 celerity ; but if, through failure to catch them, they should 

 fall to the floor, he will not descend to them, appearing to 

 be fearful that, in so doing, he would soil his delicate 

 plumage. He will eat insects in a living state, but will not 

 touch them when dead. 



9. " One of the best opportunities of seeing this splen- 

 did bird, in all its beauty of actions as well as display of 

 plumage, is early in the morning, when he makes his toi- 

 let ; the beautiful sub-alar plumage is then thrown out and 

 cleaned from any spot that may sully its purity, by being 

 passed gently through the bill ; the short, chocolate-col- 

 ored wings are extended to the utmost, and he keeps them 

 in a steady, flapping motion, as if in imitation of their use 

 in flight, at the same time raising up the delicate, long 

 feathers over the back, which are spread in a chaste and 

 elegant manner, floating like films in the ambient air. 



10. "In this position the bird would remain for a short 

 time, seemingly proud of its heavenly beauty, and in rap- 

 tures of delight with its most enchanting self ; it will then 

 assume various attitudes, so as to regard its plumage in 

 every direction. 



11. " Having completed his toilet, he utters the usual 

 cawing notes, at the same time looking archly at the spec- 

 tators, as if ready to receive all the admiration that it con- 

 siders its elegant form and plumage demand. It then 

 takes exercise by hopping in a rapid but graceful manner 

 from one of the upper perches to the other, and descends 

 suddenly upon the second perch, close to the bars of the 

 cage, looking out for the grasshoppers which it is accus- 

 tomed to receive about this time." 



James H. Partridge. 

 18 



