THE INTELLECTUAL OBSERVER. 



SEPTEMBER, 1862. 



BIRDS OF PARADISE. 



BY T. W. "WOOD, F.Z.S. 



Those exquisitely beautiful creatures, the Birds of Paradise, 

 have long attracted attention among the stuffed specimens in 

 our museums, and now, through the energy and enthusiasm of 

 Mr. Alfred R. Wallace, the public can make the acquaintance 

 of one of the finest species in a living state. I am also person- 

 ally indebted to that gentleman's kindness in allowing me to 

 make copious use of his papers on the subject. 



Describing more particularly the Great Bird of Paradise, 

 Paradisea apoda, he tells us that no one can traverse the forests 

 of Aru, without hearing " a loud, harsh, and oft-repeated cry, 

 wawk, wawk, wok, wok, wok." This is the note of the Para- 

 disea, constituting his morning and even song, and frequently 

 sounded throughout the day. So far from being, as was once 

 supposed, a very rare bird, Mr. Wallace assures us it is plen- 

 tiful all over Aru, and is, in fact, a common species. It is, 

 however, most frequently met with in a young and immature 

 state, and our enterprizing traveller shot more than a dozen in 

 that condition before he even saw a perfect male. It is in the 

 loftier trees that the full grown males live, flying from branch 

 to branch and from tree to tree in constant activity ; but keep- 

 ing a wary eye on all intruders, and being so tenacious of life 

 as not to fall an easy prey before the naturalist's or the sports- 

 man's gun. Before sunrise the Great Bird of Paradise is on 

 the wing, seeking his food, but, unlike many other fruit-eaters, 

 he is moderate in his appetite, and preserves his activity 

 through the day, instead of following their example of gorging 

 until repletion produces torpor, and compels repose. Such 

 being the character of this interesting denizen of the dense and 

 secluded forests, we look for a corresponding development in 

 physical organization, and are not surprised to learn that — 



" On examining a freshly killed bird, we see the great muscular 

 strength of the legs and wings, and find the skin to be remarkably 

 VOL. II. — NO. II. G 



