184 PARADISE BIRD. 



berries of the Waringa tree,* others that they are fond of nutmegs, f 

 others say their food is large butterflies, J and again, that they chace 

 small birds ; § and the last circumstance does not appear improbable, 

 as their bills and legs are sufficiently stout, and they are known to 

 defend themselves courageously whenever they are taken alive. 



The Paradise Birds were formerly brought into Europe without 

 legs, and not a few persons were persuaded that they never had any; 

 but the truth is, that the legs being useless for the purposes designed, 

 they are torn off on the spot, and thrown aside. It is for ornament 

 only that they are coveted, by such of the inhabitants of the east as 

 are able to purchase them, as the chiefs of the country wear them 

 constantly in their turbans, and the grandees of Persia, Surat, and 

 other parts of the East Indies, use them as Aigrettes, and even adorn 

 their horses with them. 



2— SMALLER PARADISE BIRD. 



Paradisea minor Papuana, Zoo/. Ltd. p. 33. 2. Shaw's Zool. vii. 486. 



Petit emeraude, Ois. de Paradis p. 12. pi. 2. 



Smaller Paradise Bird, Gen. Syn. ii. 474. A. Forr. Voy. 137. Ind. Zool. 4to. p. 20. II. 



THIS is smaller, as the length, the scapular feathers included, is 

 no more than twenty-one inches. Bill lead-colour, with a yellowish 

 point, and two inches and a half long ; the eye surrounded with 

 black ; forehead and chin covered with velvety black feathers, glossed 

 with green ; throat and neck before wholly green ; top of the head, 

 nape, and half the neck behind, ferruginous yellow, the lower half 

 quite yellow; the back is also yellow, with a tinge of dirty grey; 

 breast, belly, and wings chestnut ; from the upper part of the tail 



* Ficus benjamina'see Forrest, p. 136. f Tavernier, ii. 311. + Linnaus. 



§ Bontius, " unguibus incurvis et peracutis parvas aviculas Chlorides, Fringillas, et 

 similes venentur, easque mox, sicut reliquee aves devorent." Lib. v. cap. 12. 



