PARADISE BIRD. 181 



suffering an inch or two to hang out of the mouth, beyond the bill, 

 and when dry, the skin collapsed about the stick, which became fixed, 

 and supported the whole ; and the end of it being put into a socket 

 fitted to receive it, was fastened in some manner to a turban, or else- 

 where. By degrees these were imported into other isles for the same 

 uses, and afterwards coveted by the Japanese, Chinese, and Persians, 

 in whose nations they are frequently seen, as well as in many parts of 

 India. The Grandees of the last parts not only ornamenting them- 

 selves, but adorning their horses with these beautiful plumes. 



The whole of this race is supposed to inhabit New Guinea, 

 migrating into the neighbouring isles for a time, but returning to 

 the former in the breeding season, and never at all found but within 

 a few degrees of the Equator. The Dutch get them chiefly from 

 Banda, and it is there that the story of their being without legs is 

 propagated, in order to enhance their value. The natives of Aroo 

 bring them to that place by way of traffic, prepared as above, and 

 put into the hollow of a Bamboo for further preservation. 



We here enumerate twenty Species and Varieties, and lament that 

 the descriptions of some are necessarily imperfect, from the little 

 knowledge to be obtained concerning them ; but have remarked all 

 that is generally known, with a hope that some future Naturalist will 

 be found, who having undertaken a journey into New Guinea, may 

 be capable of discriminating the subjects he shall find there, and by 

 this means supply our present desiderata. 



