66 CROW BLACKBIRDS.— BIRDS OF PARADISE. 



the Blue Jay, — Corviis crist at vs,— resembles the preceding in its 

 temper and ^habits. It is crested ; it is blue above, and beneath 

 whitish with a black collar ; the wing coverts are transversely 

 barred black, and the tail is wedge-shaped. 



78. [The Great Crow Blackbird, — Quiscalus major,— is glossy- 

 black. This large crow-like species, sometimes called the Jack- 

 daw, inhabits the southern maritime parts of the United States. 

 It is sociable in disposition, and often mingles with the common 

 Crow-blackbirds. It is omnivorous, and feeds on insects, small 

 shell-fish, corn and small grain, so that by turns, it may be viewed 

 as the friend or plunderer of the planter. The common Crow 

 Blackbird, — Quiscalus versicolor, — and the Rusty Blackbird, — 

 Quiscalus ferrugineus, — are two other American species of this 

 genus.] 



79. Birds of Paradise, — Paradiscea, — like the Crows have a 

 straight, quadrangular, pointed beak, which is compressed and a 

 little convex above ; their nostrils are covered by the velvety 

 feathers of the front. These birds, which are indigenous to New 

 Guinea and the neighbouring islands, are all provided with the 

 most brilliant plumage. Their history was for a long time a tissue 

 of fable and absurdity. The female, it was asserted, laid her 

 eggs while flying, and had no legs ; and when sleeping, it sus- 

 pended itself from branches of trees by the long thread like 

 feathers of the tail ; that it fed exclusively on dew, and never 

 touched the earth till it was dead ! All these accounts have 

 found their place, and observation has revealed (he truth. 



80. The most celebrated species is the Emerald Bird of Para- 

 dise, — Paradiscea apoda. — Its head is small, but ornamented with 

 feathers that in brilliancy rival those of the peacock ; the neck is 

 of a yellowish tint ; the body is very small, but covered with 

 long feathers of a brown tint sprinkled with gold, two long 

 bearded filaments or thread like feathers, spring from the rump 

 and form the tail. The long, light, and graceful feathers of this 

 bird form the most beautiful, and most sought plumes for the 

 decoration of ladies' head dresses. These birds travel in troops 

 of thirty or forty under the direction of a chief, which the Indians 

 call the king. Their light plumage does not permit them to fly 

 against the wind, and if overtaken by a gale they rise into the 

 upper regions of the atmosphere, and leave the storm below them. 



78. What are the characters of the Great Crow Blackbird ? What are 

 its habits ? 



79. What are the characters of Birds of Paradise ? Where are they found ? 



80. What are the characters of the Emerald Bird of Paradise ? What 

 are its habits ? 



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