ORNITHOLOGY. 



Genus— PARADISEA. Species— PARADISEA 

 REGIA. 



Generic Character — The bill covered at the base by irregu- 

 lar plumes; the side feathers irregular and far 

 extended; head and legs resembling those of a 

 Crow, and the feet formed for walking. 



THE genus Paradisea seems to present a happy and 

 striking resemblance of the gorgeous and splendid magnifi- 

 cence of Eastern pomp; the crowned summit and the varied 

 and spreading plumage of the wings and tail, frequently 

 expanded out to an immense length and space, indicate to 

 our minds, an idea of grandeur which has no other parrallel 

 in Nature. In praise however to its symmetry and suitable 

 proportions of form, our admiration must be more limited, 

 as the head is generally so small as to be out of all natural 

 proportion, and the legs are coarsely plaited with scales of 

 an unpleasing texture. 



The Bird of Paradise, as far as observation has removed 

 the veil from Nature, is found only in the regions of Papua 

 which reach to a few degrees on each side of the Equator. 



It is not to be wondered at therefore, considering its 

 rarity, that amongst t'ae various and delightful assemblage 

 of Birds which the Torrid Zone has yielded to the enquiring 

 Naturalist, none hav a excited a warmer admiration amongst 

 collectors, than the Bird of Paradise. It has been imagined 

 by some authors of repute, to have been the Phoenix of the 

 most ancient writers; but it is more probable, perhaps, 



