ISO LECTURE V. 



dern naturalists that the number is pretty con- 

 siderable. Of these the most common, or that 

 which was earliest known to the Europeans i^ 

 the Paradisea apoda of Linnaeus, who did wrong 

 to give it that title, since it still keeps up in 

 some degree the highly absurd idea, that the 

 bird was naturally destitute of feet, the word 

 apoda meaning footless, whereas, on the con- 

 trary, the legs and feet of the Paradise-Birds 

 are rather remarkably stout and large. The cha^ 

 racter of the Paradise-Birds is that the bill, which 

 is somewhat lengthened, slightly curved and 

 sharp-pointed, is beset, round the base, with up^- 

 right velvet or plush-like feathers, and that from 

 each side, beneath the wings, springs, in most 

 species, a certain number of loose-webbed fea- 

 thers, of a peculiar construction, and greatly ex* 

 ceeding the rest in length. 



The P. apoda or common Paradise-Bird is 

 about the size of a Thrush, and of a ^^vy fine 

 reddish chesnut-colour on the upper parts, and 

 yellowish-white beneath : the velvet-feathers round 

 the bill are black ; the top of the head and the 

 back of the neck yellow, and the throat of the 

 most brilliant golden-green : the tail is of mo^ 



