ORNITHOLOGY. 



affinity to them is the Hoopoe, sometimes found in England, 

 having an elegant crest upon the summit of its head, which 

 it can elevate or depress at pleasure. Like many of the 

 Birds of Paradise, also, it is migratory, and retires for 

 certain periods, to some warmer and southern climate, 

 more congenial to its nature and the habits of its con- 

 stitution. 



The side-feathers which invest the body and neck of 

 the Bird of Paradise, are admirably adapted to preserve the 

 natural ballance and weight of the tail, which in most of the 

 species is excessively long; without this circumstance, their 

 flight upwards would have been more difficult, if not quite 

 impossible. The chief advantage of their elasticity and 

 taper form is to give a buoancy to the flight, and enable 

 them to change their course more rapidly and effectually. 

 Travellers who have seen them in their native regions, report 

 that they have the power of shooting up suddenly to an 

 astonishing height in the air, so as to leave all the lower 

 tenants of the grove at a respectful distance, while the 

 brightest beams of the sun reflected on their amber plumage, 

 seem like a sudden flash of lightning or a transient gleam 

 of liar lit. 



museum 



From a singularly fine specimen in Mr. Bullock's 

 sum. 



